Mortality from hepatoblastoma in children with associated genetic syndromes: an epidemiological analysis

Abstract

Hepatoblastoma (HB) is the most common primary malignant liver cancer in children. This type of tumor originates from immature liver cells, and its early identification has been facilitated by advances in imaging technology, which allow for better tumor staging, stratification and precise diagnosis. To analyze mortality rates from hepatoblastoma in children with associated genetic syndromes, identifying how these rates vary according to demographic characteristics (age, sex, ethnicity) and the severity of the genetic syndromes. The proposed research adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative methods, and is based on data extracted from DataSUS and the Mortality Information System (SIM). The analysis of mortality data related to hepatoblastoma in Brazil revealed that 59.52% of deaths occurred in males. The majority of deaths were concentrated in the Southeast (34.92%) and Northeast (33.73%) regions, while the North (10.31%) and Central-West (6.74%) regions had the lowest percentages. Regarding race, white (47.23%) and mixed-race (43.25%) children were the most affected. Finally, the most impacted age group was children over 10 years old (40.47%). The results highlighted that factors such as regional inequalities, limited access to specialized healthcare services, and the absence of robust genetic screening programs have a direct influence on hepatoblastoma mortality rates.