[Clinical, radiological and pathological exploration of focal nodular hyperplasia of liver reported in Korea].
OBJECTIVE
Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) is mandatory to be differentiated from other hepatic tumorous conditions such as hepatocellular carcinoma and adenoma. The purpose of this study was to explore the clinical, radiological and pathological features of FNH cases reported in Korea.


METHODS
We have searched the journals from the web site "http://koreamed.org" using keywords "focal nodular hyperplasia" and "liver" - total of 38 cases of FNH, 37 cases from 17 published articles and one case from our experience confirmed histologically, were reviewed and analyzed.


RESULTS
Thirty eight cases were diagnosed between gestational age of 36 weeks and 67 years. Seventeen female patients (45%) had no history of taking oral contraceptives. Twenty cases (52.6%) experienced clinical symptoms such as abdominal pain and palpable mass. Computed tomography revealed contrast-enhancement in 34 nodules (85%) and typical central stellate scar in 9 (22.5%) of 40 nodules. Magnetic resonance imaging showed T1 weighted low signal in 18 (60%) and T2 weighted high signal in 22 (73.3%) of 30 nodules. Six (60%) of 10 cases showed hypervascular staining on hepatic angiography. Among 38 cases, 32 (84.2%) cases had single nodule and their mean size was 3.9 cm (0.5-16 cm). Pathologically, fibrous septa, proliferation of bile ductules and arterial wall thickening were seen in most cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Of all the FNH cases reported in Korea, there were some differences in clinical aspects of sex ratio, accompanying clinical symptoms, and relationship with oral contraceptives, compared with previous reports. Further prospective studies are needed by means of nation-wide clinical survey and analysis.
Kang
Ha Yan
HY
Department of Internal Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea.
La
Sung Soo
SS
Kong
Jae Hwan
JH
Lee
Sang Seok
SS
Baek
Doo San
DS
Lim
Sang Soo
SS
Shin
Ki Chul
KC
Shin
Hyun Duk
HD
Yun
Se Young
SY
Kim
Suk Bae
SB
Shin
Jeong Eun
JE
Kim
Hong Ja
HJ
Song
Il Han
IH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D005260:Female; D020518:Focal Nodular Hyperplasia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D003276:Contraceptives, Oral