[Oral contraceptives and liver tumors]

That oral contraceptives have repercussions on the liver and bile ducts can no longer be denied. The role of oral contraceptives in inducing malignant or benign hepatic tumours is not universally admitted. From 1968 to 1979 the authors enumerated 29 hepatic tumours (18 benign, 11 malignant). In 13 cases the benign tumour was associated with the use of oral contraceptives and the tumour was diagnosed during or after the course of contraceptives. The signs and symptoms leading to the discovery of the benign hepatic tumour were an abdominal mass or enlarged liver in 3 cases and intraabdominal hemorrhage in one. In 9 cases the tumour was discovered at surgery. The contraceptive used was a preparation containing ethinyl-oestradiol, mestranol and a progesterone. The number of benign hepatic tumours has increased relatively in recent years, and this would seem to coincide with the utilization of oral contraceptives. For the moment definite proof is lacking, as the period during which the authors have studied this problem is still too short.