[Role of chemotherapy in the treatment of malignant liver tumors in childhood].

Primary liver tumors in childhood should be resected totally whenever possible. The chances of long term survival of these patients improved considerably since postoperative chemotherapy has become obligatory. In the treatment of primarily inoperable tumors, initial chemotherapy is given to decrease the size of the tumor and thus achieve conditions for complete resection. For hepatoblastomas, chemotherapy should consist of vincristine, cyclophosphamid, adriamycin and actinomycin-D whereas the hepatocellular carcinoma responds best to anthracyclines. The most effective form of their application will have to be established.