Nodular regenerative hyperplasia of the liver: a case report

Nodular regenerative hyperplasia of the liver is characterized by hepatocellular nodules distributed throughout the liver in the absence of fibrous septa between the nodules. In the literature, most reports have been single cases so that the prevalence and clinical significance of the disease is not exactly known. The critical lesion is obliterative portal venopathy which is obstruction to terminal radicals of hepatic arterioles and portal venules, possibly secondary to endothelial cell damage. Resultant hepatic ischemia may be responsible for induction of the nodular regenerative change. Portal hypertension which is secondary to nodular regenerative hyperplasia and is often complicated by bleeding esophageal varices. We report a rare case of nodular regarative hyperplasia of the liver, with onset of symptom in childhood.