Hemorrhage caused by ruptured liver cell adenoma following long-term oral contraceptives: a case report

A 41-year-old woman who had taken oral contraceptives for 14 years was admitted to the hospital with pain in the left shoulder region and epigastrium arising after regurgitation. Sonography and CT revealed a ruptured liver tumor with sealed-off liver hemorrhage. The resected specimen revealed a ruptured and partially necrotic liver cell adenoma. This paradigmatic case illustrates a rare but well known entity: liver cell adenomas prone to necrosis and hemorrhage, requiring emergency intervention, in women on long-term oral contraceptive therapy.