[Nodular regenerative hyperplasia of the liver]

In 6 men and 4 women aged 48-89 years on necropsy extensive nodular regenerative hyperplasia of the liver of different extent was found. In four instances it affected the whole liver and the macroscopic appearance reminded of small nodular cirrhosis which in one case was diagnosed also by clinicians. Twice the advanced hyperplasia of the liver was manifested by portal hypertension and in one of these patients it led to fatal haemorrhage from oesophageal varices. In the other cases it replaced smaller portions of hepatic tissue and could be detected only by microscopic examination. Usually it was present in not enlarged livers and most frequently it was associated with chronic venostasis. In three instances it was associated with haematological disease (chronic lymphatic leukaemia and twice myeloproliferative syndrome), once tumour duplicity (carcinoma of the lungs and prostate) and chronic cholangitis. In a 77 year-old woman with Caroli's disease of the left liver lobe it was found only in an area of biliary malformation.