Multiple hepatocellular tumours in a patient treated with oral contraceptives

A case of multiple hepatic tumours in a patient treated for four years with high doses of oral contraceptives is described. Solitary hepatocellular lesions associated with conventional doses of oral contraceptives have been reported previously in twenty nine cases. Haemorrhage has been a common mode of presentation and is attributed to the marked vascularity of the lesions, an appearance referred to as peliosis hepatis. Radiographic studies show this term to be inappropriate as the vessels are of arterial origin. Another finding not previously reported is the presence of diffuse hyperplasia in the non-tumourous parts of the liver.