Hilar lymph node involvement in pediatric liver cancer and its impact on outcomes: A systematic review.
Crit Rev Oncol HematolJun 18, 2026 (epub)
Francesca Gigola, Cristina Villard, Luca Pio et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review evaluated hilar lymph node involvement in pediatric liver cancer, analyzing data from eight studies involving 880 patients. The findings indicated that in hepatoblastoma, 0% of patients had positive lymph nodes, suggesting that routine dissection may be unnecessary. In contrast, 33.6% of hepatocellular carcinoma patients had positive nodes, indicating a need for further evaluation.
Key findings
- In hepatoblastoma, 0% of patients had positive lymph nodes after dissection.
- 33.6% of hepatocellular carcinoma patients showed lymph node positivity.
- 80.9% of patients had no lymph node metastases overall.
- Evidence on survival impact from lymph node involvement was limited.
Why it matters
Understanding lymph node involvement in pediatric liver tumors can guide surgical decisions and treatment protocols. The findings may influence the necessity of lymphadenectomy in specific tumor types, potentially impacting patient outcomes.