[Focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver in 930 patients]

Analysis of 930 patients with focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver (FNH), including 23 seen by the authors, showed the following results: 82.2% of patients were female, 37.8% of these had taken female steroidal hormones. There was no preference for a particular lobe of the liver. 57.7% of FNH were subcapsular, 33.7% were intrahepatic and 8.8% were pedunculated. Average size was 5.9 cm, 80.8% of the patients were asymptomatic. In 93.5% (115 out of 123) a space-occupying lesion in the liver could be demonstrated by sonography. In 13%, second or multiple tumours were missed by sonography. CT without enhancement demonstrated FNH in 90.4% (94 out of 104 patients). A rapid, marked increase in density after contrast was seen in 64 out of 68 lesions (94.1%). Colloid scintigraphy showed normal uptake in 34.9% of patients. Hepato-biliary functional scintigraphy demonstrated 32 out of 35 lesions (91.4%). In 97.3% (183 out of 188) FNH was demonstrated by angiography, in 95.4% as a highly vascular tumour.