Hepatic lesions in patients treated with synthetic anabolic steriods

Hepatic abnormalities are described in three patients who received synthetic anabolic steroids. A child with Franconi's anaemia was treated for four years and at necropsy the liver showed generalized hyperplasia, hyperplastic nodules, and a benign hepatoma. Two adults received only three months' therapy with synthetic androgens; in one there was generalized hepatic hyperplasia and in the other widespread nodular hyperplasia. It is suggested that anabolic steroids may induce tumours through intermediate hyperplastic lesions, a sequence similar to that seen during tumour induction by carcinogens in experimental animals.