Clinical and Evolutionary Characteristics of Hepatoblastomas Treated at the Tunis Children’s Hospital

Epidemiological data on hepatoblastoma, the most common malignant liver tumor in pediatrics, are lacking in Tunisia. The objective of this study was to examine the clinical, therapeutic, and evolutionary characteristics of hepatoblastoma in children and to identify factors that influence prognosis. This was a retrospective analysis of all pediatric patients under the age of 18 who were treated for hepatoblastoma at the pediatric oncology unit of the Tunis Children’s Hospital over a period of 18 years. A total of 18 patients were included in the study. The median age was 22 months [1 month – 7 years]. The primary presenting symptoms were abdominal bloating and general signs (altered general condition, weight loss and anorexia). Mixed histology was the most prevalent type. Twelve patients were classified in the high-risk group, and six in the standard-risk group. The patients were treated in accordance with the SIOPEL3 protocol. A total of 16 patients underwent surgical treatment. A mean follow-up of 6 years [1 – 14 years] yielded an overall and event-free survival at 5 years of 67% and 55%, respectively. The factors influencing survival were diagnostic delay (p = 0.048), alpha-fetoprotein level (p