The role of the minimally invasive surgery in the management of paediatric liver tumours.

Minimally invasive surgical techniques are increasingly adopted for the management of hepatic masses in children. Laparoscopic liver biopsy can be used to obtain tissue diagnosis while avoiding the risks of open surgery and providing improved cosmesis. Laparoscopic or robotic liver resection has more gradually been adopted in children than in adults but can be utilized for appropriately located tumours as long as oncologic principles are maintained. Patient size is a factor when choosing whether to perform liver resection via a minimally invasive approach. Laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation offers an alternative strategy to surgery for paediatric patients with small masses or can serve as a bridge to transplant.