Oral-contraceptive-associated liver tumours: occurrence of malignancy and difficulties in diagnosis.
Seven of ten women with oral-contraceptive-associated liver tumours were found to have hepatocellular carcinoma. The diagnosis was often delayed, although hepatomegaly was always present on examination, and liver-function tests and erythrocyte sedimentation-rates were abnormal in most cases. Other investigations, including routine technetium liver scans and biopsy, were sometimes misleading. There were important differences in alpha-fetoprotein concentration, vascularity on angiography, and survival between liver tumours in pill users and non-users.
D000236:Adenoma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis
D003276:Contraceptives, Oral