Association of multiple liver cell adenomas with spontaneous intrahepatic portohepatic shunt

The association of multiple liver cell adenomas containing foci of focal nodular hyperplasia with a spontaneous intrahepatic portohepatic venous shunt is reported in a 13-year-old male patient. At least eight nodules less than 10 cm in diameter were recognized and proved by means of surgical resection or surgical biopsies. These lesions were heterogeneous and hypodense on precontrast computed tomographic (CT) scans, and were slightly enhanced after injection of contrast medium. At magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, the signal intensity of these nodules varied. It was either hyperintense or hypointense on T1-weighted SE images. Sonography and angiography demonstrated a portohepatic venous shunt and hepatic arterialization was observed. These findings emphasize the hypothesis that hepatic arterialization may cause the development of liver cell adenomas. Moreover, it is suggested that liver cell adenoma and focal nodular hyperplasia have a common pathogenesis.