Liver - focal liver lesions Flashcards
What are solid liver lesions in older patients most likely to be?
Malignant - usually metastases if the patient does not have liver disease (then it is more likely to be a primary liver cancer)
What is the most common solid liver tumour in non cirrhotic patients?
Haemangioma
What are the causes of a benign focal liver lesions? (4)
Haemangioma
Focal nodular hyperplasia
Adenoma
Liver cysts
What are the 2 causes of malignant focal lesions of the liver?
Primary liver cancers
Metastases
What are the types of primary liver cancers? (6)
Hepatocellular carcinoma Cholangiocarcinoma Fibrolamellar carcinoma Hepatoblastoma Angiosarcoma Haemangioendothelioma
Clinical features of haemangioma:
- more common in M or F?
- blood supply?
- size/ number of them?
- border?
- symptoms?
Females Hypervascular tumour Usually single and small Well demarcated capsule usually asymptomatic
Diagnosis of haemangioma?
US: echogenic spot, well demarcated
CT: venous enhancement from periphery centre
MRI: high intensity area
No need for FNA
Treatment for haemangioma?
No need for treatment
What is a focal nodular hyperplasia?
Benign nodule formation of normal liver tissue (hyper plastic growth of normal hepatocytes)
What is usually the cause of a focal nodular hyperplasia?
What 2 other conditions is FNH therefore associated with?
Congenital vascular anomaly - hyperplastic response to abnormal arterial flow
Osler-Weber-Rendu
Liver haemangioma
What is the classical appearance of a focal nodular hyperplasia?
Central scar containing a large artery, radiating branches to the periphery (Hub and spoke) - not always
What 3 things are present on histology focal nodular hyperplasia?
Sinusoids
Bile ductules
Kupffer cells
What age groups and gender are focal nodular hyperplasia more common in?
Young and middle age women (no relation with sex hormones)
Symptoms of focal nodular hyperplasia?
Usually asymptomatic, amy cause minimal pain
Diagnosis of focal nodular hyperplasia?
US: nodule with varying echogenicity
CT: hypervascular scar with central scar
MRI: Iso or hypo intense
FNA: normal hepatocytes and cupful cells with central core
Treatment of focal nodular hyperplasia?
No treatment necessary
no change required regarding pregnancy and hormones - some older texts give mixed message
What is a hepatic adenoma?
Benign neoplasm composed of normal hepatocytes - most are solitary fat containing lesions
No portal tract, central veins or bile ducts
Clinical features of hepatic adenoma: Which sex is it more common in? What is it commonly associated with? Symptoms? What can it rarely present with?
Females
Contraceptive hormones
Usually asymptomatic but may have RUQ pain - symptoms are size related
May present with rupture, haemorrhage or malignant transformation (very rare)
What lobe of the liver are hepatic adenomas commonly found in?
The right lobe
What is multiple adenomas called?
What is this associated with?
Adenomatosis
Glycogen storage diseases
What has been identified within adenomas that confer malignant risk?
Identifiable oncogene mutations
How are hepatic adenomas related to Oral Contraceptive?
Related to duration of OC use (>2 years) and oestrogen component, but adenomas have been described with even 6 months of OS use
What can happen do hepatic adenomas after discontinuation of Oral contraceptives?
Regression
Diagnosis of hepatic adenoma?
US: filling defect
CT: diffuse arterial enhancement
MRI: hypo or hyper intense lesion
FNA: may be needed