Related Experiment Videos
[Angiomyolipoma of the liver]
1Medizinische Klinik II, Städtisches Klinikum Pforzheim.
History And Admission Findings:
A 66-year-old woman, known for 4 years to have a space-occupying lesion in the liver thought to be a lipoma, was admitted because the increasing size of the mass. She was hypertensive and had recurrent supraventricular tachycardia, but was otherwise asymptomatic and physical examination was unremarkable.
Investigations:
Laboratory tests were within normal limits. Abdominal ultrasound demonstrated a well-circumscribed, echodense space-occupying lesion. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a hyperintense encapsulated tumour with contrast-medium enhancement.
Diagnosis And Treatment:
Because the imaging tests were equivocal, a segmental liver resection was performed to exclude malignancy. Histological examination revealed an angiomyolipoma of the liver.
Conclusion:
Angiolipoma is a benign mixed-cell tumour that very rarely affects the liver but must be included in the differential diagnosis of hepatic space-occupying lesions. Its manifestations may be highly variable and histological examination is required if there is any uncertainty about possible malignancy. If the biopsy is diagnostic of a benign lesion, expectant observation with regular monitoring is indicated.