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Focal nodular hyperplasia contiguous with an echinococcal cyst.
J A Komisarof1, K Olthoff, E S Siegelman
1Department of Pathology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA.
The American Journal of Gastroenterology
|April 14, 2000
Summary
This study details a rare case of a contiguous Echinococcal cyst and focal nodular hyperplasia in the liver. The parasitic infection may have triggered the development of the benign liver lesion.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Parasitology
- Pathology
Background:
- Echinococcal cysts and focal nodular hyperplasia are typically isolated hepatic lesions.
- Hepatic adenomas can present as cystic and solid lesions, sometimes with hematoma formation.
- Focal nodular hyperplasia is a benign liver lesion often associated with abnormal arterial blood flow.
Observation:
- A patient presented with right upper quadrant pain and imaging revealed a complex cystic and solid liver lesion.
- Initial imaging suggested an hepatic adenoma with hemorrhage.
- Surgical resection confirmed the presence of Echinococcus multilocularis and focal nodular hyperplasia in direct contact.
Findings:
- The pathological examination revealed a co-occurrence of Echinococcal cyst and focal nodular hyperplasia.
- The two hepatic lesions were found in direct contiguity, a previously unreported association.
- Echinococcus multilocularis was identified as the parasitic cause within the cyst.
Implications:
- This case presents a unique interaction between a parasitic liver infection and a benign neoplastic lesion.
- The parasitic infection by Echinococcus multilocularis is postulated to have potentially incited the formation of the contiguous focal nodular hyperplasia.
- Further research may explore the inflammatory or angiogenic mechanisms linking parasitic infections to benign liver lesion development.