[Hepatocellular adenoma and focal nodular hyperplasia]

The diagnostic findings of hepatocellular adenoma and focal nodular hyperplasia became more frequent in the last years in our as in western experience. The improvement in diagnostic technique, a correct pathological identification and the diffusion of oral contraceptives explain this increase of incidence. In our series were present 11 hepatocellular adenomas and 19 focal nodular hyperplasias: all the HCA cases were radically resected, while only 15 FNH were resected, only two biopsied and two submitted to periodical follow-up. The tendency to spontaneous bleeding and the presence of diagnostic uncertainty versus well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma are mandatory indications for radical resections in all the HCA cases. FNH resection is reserved to symptomatic cases and wide wedge biopsy is at least required in presence of diagnostic doubts: the asymptomatic FNH ("hot spot" on Tc99m-HIDA scintigraphy) may be followed-up only.