A Case Report of Hepatoblastoma with Hypoglycemia : Biochemical Analysis and a Review of Literature

Abstract

Hypoglycernia-producing extrapancreatic neoplasms in infants are extremely rare. To our knowledge, only two cases under 10 years of age (Wilms' tumor and neuroblastoma) have been reported. A five-year-old male was admitted with symptoms of hypoglycemia. Thereafter, in the course of studies, a hepatoblastoma was found. After resection of the tumor, hypoglyce mia disappeared. A high concentration of insulin-like activity (ILA) was found in the tumor extract. Hypoglycemia in this patient seemed to depend mainly on ILA and partly on liver enzyme activities related to carbohydrate metabolism.