TERATOID HEPATOBLASTOMA

Histologically there is a possibility of confusion between hepatoblast omas and teratomas of the liver due to the ability of the former to sh ow differentiation along divergent lines. We report one such mixed Hep atoblastoma excised from a one and half year old male child. Apart fro m immature hepatocytic cells arranged in fetal pattern, extensive oste oid and few keratin cysts, the tumor revealed neuroectodermal differen tiation in the form of abundant melanin pigment and few ganglion cells . The recently coined term Teratoid Hepatoblastoma was considered apt for this tumor. The purpose of this communication is to document this rare type of hepatoblastoma and to discuss its differentiation from a true teratoma of the liver.