Cure of hepatoblastoma with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization.

Until now surgical resection was still considered as the only choice of successful treatment of hepatoblastoma. Therefore, successful use of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) alone to cure the unresectable hepatoblastoma in an infant was firstly reported. A 6-month-old boy presented with a huge abdominal mass and was found to have a hepatoblastoma of 17.5 cm x 11.5 cm x 10 cm on computed tomography (CT) scan. The serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was elevated to 6250 ng/mL. On the first TACE the main feeding arteries were completely occluded by stainless steel embolization coils. After one month tumor shrinkage was 75%, but a newly formed feeding artery was found and embolized on second TACE. Since the third TACE no newly formed feeding artery was found and 6 courses of intravenous chemotherapy were consolidated. On the last DSA and CT the tumor was completely disappeared and AFP returned to normal. During the follow-up he remained disease-free for 33 months until the present report. TACE may provide an additional promising choice in the treatment of hepatoblastoma.