Hepatic tumors in children.

Although there is broad consensus that complete resection is the cornerstone of successful management of hepatic malignancies in children, the optimal timing and integration of surgery and chemotherapy remain controversial. Excellent cure rates have been achieved with complete resection followed by multiagent chemotherapy for hepatoblastoma. Future studies are directed toward the identification of "poor risk" patients with protocols designed to improve survival for children with advanced disease and with hepatocellular carcinoma. A multidisciplinary team approach to the care of children with hepatic malignancies using the latest guidelines from clinical trials offers the best opportunity for successful outcomes.