Benign liver tumors: presenting profiles and treatment

The presenting profiles of three cases of benign hepatic cell tumors associated with ingestion of oral contraceptives assisted in the diagnosis and treatment of these interesting tumors. One patient had evidence of bleeding at the time of presentation that required emergency anatomic right lobe resection. Another had symptoms of acute cholecystitis and a mass that at surgical operation was found to be nonresectable. The tumor involuted after discontinuation of oral contraceptives. A final patient with a freely movable asymptomatic mass had a pedunculated liver tumor that was easily resected. Options in treatment of these benign liver tumors must be kept in mind. As the natural history of these lesions evolves, other modes of treatment less formidable than resection, such as discontinuation of oral contraceptives and occlusion of the hepatic artery circulation, may be effectively employed.