Angiomyolipoma of the liver

Angiomyolipoma is a rare benign tumor that occurs in the liver and other organs. We provide data on eight cases of hepatic angiomyolipoma, regarding clinical presentations, diagnoses, management, and prognosis.

A retrospective review of medical records of the eight patients with hepatic angiomyolipoma treated at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Taipei between October 1988 and October 1999.

Eight female patients with hepatic angiomyolipoma were identified, with ages ranging from 30 to 66 years (mean, 45.3 years). Abdominal pain was the most common symptom, occurring in six of eight patients (75%). Hepatocellular carcinoma was the most common preoperative diagnosis, occurring in three of eight patients (37.5%). Laparotomy was performed in seven of eight patients (87.5%). Among these seven patients, three patients (43%) received hepatic resection with 100% cure rate to date. One of the eight patients (12.5%) was closely follow up after diagnosis made by echo-guided needle biopsy.

Hepatic angiomyolipoma is a rare and benign entity. It has a wide variation and poses a diagnostic challenge clinically, radiologically, and pathologically. Its prognosis is good regardless of management, including hepatic resection or conservative treatment after tissue biopsy by echo-guided needle. To alleviate the mass effect, surgical resection may be needed for hepatic angiomyolipoma in selected cases.