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Updated: Jun 4, 2026
Laparoscopic Anatomical Right Hemihepatectomy via the In Situ Anterior Approach
Published on: August 8, 2025
Diagnosis and treatment of hepatic angiomyolipoma
Guang-Hui Ding1, Yang Liu, Meng-Chao Wu
1Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Shanghai Tenth People Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. guanghuiding@yahoo.com.cn
Background And Objective:
Hepatic angiomyolipoma is more frequently encountered in clinical practice, its diagnosis is difficult, its treatment remains controversial. We review a single-center experience in the treatment of hepatic angiomyolipoma.
Method:
The clinical data of 79 patients with hepatic angiomyolipoma treated at the authors' institute between January 1992 and December 2006 were retrospectively reviewed.
Results:
During a period of 15 years, a total of 79 patients with hepatic angiomyolipoma underwent liver resection at our hospital. There are 58 women and 21 men. The tumor size varied from 1 to 25 cm in diameter (6.1 ± 4.08). Fifty-four patients (68%) were asymptomatic. Accurate preoperative diagnosis was made in 41 patients (52%). Tumors less than 6 cm in size were more frequently misdiagnosed. Spontaneous rupture occurred in one patient. One patient had tumor recurrence 6 years after the surgery, and died of the disease 1 year later. Symptom relief was achieved in 92% of the symptomatic patients. Median survival was 90 months (90.12 ± 30.84).
Conclusions:
Hepatic angiomyolipoma poses a diagnostic challenge clinically and radiologically. Surgical resection is a safe and effective treatment option. It is important to realize the potential of malignant transformation and risk of rupture as life-threatening complications.
