An evaluation of the association between radiological parameters and survival outcomes in pediatric patients with hepatoblastoma

Abstract

Background: We evaluated the survival outcomes following hepatic resection as a treatment modality in pediatric patients with hepatoblastoma at a single institution, and to identify radiological parameters associated with poorer survival outcomes.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. Medical records were reviewed, pertaining to pediatric patients diagnosed with hepatoblastoma who underwent surgical resection at a university hospital in Thailand between 2004 and 2021. Radiological parameters, clinical factors, and pathological data were also collected. Survival analysis was performed, and prognostic factors were identified using logistic regression analysis.

Results: Forty-two suitable patients were identified. Three cases with incomplete data were excluded, resulting in 39 cases being analyzed. Except for two, all patients received preoperative chemotherapy following the Thai Pediatric Oncology Group regimen. The two- and five-year overall survival rates were 78.0% and 70.9%, respectively. Upon analysis, the radiological parameters associated with poorer survival were poor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, presence of metastasis, post-chemotherapy tumor diameter, Post treatment extent of disease (POSTTEXT) Stage IV disease, presence of portal vein involvement, and presence of residual disease; poor neoadjuvant-response, portal vein involvement, and metastasis were independently associated with worse outcomes. In patients with non-metastatic hepatoblastoma who had at least a 25% reduction in size following neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the 5-year survival rate was 90.9% (95% CI 50.8-98.6%).

Conclusions: Although preoperative evaluation of the tumor extent staging did not significantly affect survival, portal vein involvement as per POSTTEXT staging, stable or increasing tumor size, and metastasis following neoadjuvant chemotherapy were associated with poor overall survival.

Level of evidence: IIB.

Keywords: Hepatoblastoma; Overall survival; POSTTEXT; Prognostic factors.