[Focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver: a clinical study of 48 patients].
OBJECTIVE
To study the diagnosis and proper treatment of focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) of the liver.


METHODS
Forty-eight consecutive patients with FNH treated from 1998 to 2002 were analyzed. Clinical, pathologic, and preoperative imaging findings of FNH all proved surgically and pathologically were retrospectively reviewed.


RESULTS
Most of the patients were asymptomatic and serum test was normal. Helical multiphasic liver CT and MR imaging demonstrated characteristic features in 25 patients. Histologically, characteristic scar-like tissues were found in 29 cases. The overall complication rate was 2.1% and there was no death. No recurrence was observed after follow-up of 4 years after operation.


CONCLUSIONS
There is little evidence for an increased risk for FNH in people using modern oral contraceptives, while characteristic imaging features exist in helical multiphasic liver CT and MR imaging. Operation is the optimal treatment for FNH, but for proved FNH less than 5 cm and asymptomatic patients, close periodic followed up should be done.
Lin
Chuan
C
Eastern Hepatobilliary Surgery Hospital, Shanghai 200438, China. linch68@sina.com
Geng
Li
L
Chen
Han
H
Wang
Yi
Y
Wu
Meng-chao
MC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D020518:Focal Nodular Hyperplasia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed