A right extended hepatectomy of a spontaneous ruputure in the hepatoblastoma of an infant

The hepatoblastoma with an actue abdominal crisis due to the rupture of a tumor is rarely seen in children. A 45 month-old female infant was admitted to our ward suffering from hypovolemic shoch. The various physical examinations indicated a spontneous repture of the hepatobastoma. An emergency right extended hepatectomy was performed. The massive hemoperitoneum was identified as secondary to a large rupture of a tumor in the right lobe of the liver. The line of resection appeared to eradicate the tumor which was 5cm in size. The postoperative clinical observation showed no substantial changed. The patient was placed under chemotherapy with a conjugate. Three months after the surgery, the serum a-fetoprotein level was zero. In conclusion, it is important to diagnose the depatoblastoma as early as possible and precautins need to be taken to prevent ruotures of tumors.