Oral contraceptives and focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver

A variety of benign liver tumors associated with the use of oral contraceptives has been described. However, there is controversy regarding the possible relation of focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver to oral contraceptive therapy. Over a ten-year period at the Soroka Medical Center, two young women were found to have hepatic tumors diagnosed as focal nodular hyperplasia. In both cases the hepatic nodules were an incidental finding at laparotomy and were thought to be metastatic tumors. The clinical and pathological findings in both cases are reported. The features of focal nodular hyperplasia and its possible relation to oral contraceptive use is discussed.