[Diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in hepatocellular adenoma]

While liver hemangioma and focal nodular hyperplasia are not considered an indication for surgery in asymptomatic patients resection has been recommended for hepatocellular adenoma because of the risk of rupture and malignant transformation. Problems arise from differential diagnosis and the appropriate surgical radicality including the indication for liver transplantation. This retrospective analysis deals with 58 patients who underwent surgery for hepatocellular adenoma: resection of different extension: n = 54, liver transplantation n = 4. In 39.6% of the patients the tumor was an incidental finding. In 62.0% of the character of the lesion was unclear prior to surgery. Tumor rupture and bleeding occurred in 17.2%, malignant transformation in 6.9%. Surgical morbidity was 27.6%, mortality 5.2% with the transplant patients alive for 1.5, 7, 9 and 10 years. Two and five years after resection 2 patients developed hepatocellular carcinoma in the liver remnant. The results confirm the indication for surgery in hepatocellular adenoma. Diagnostic approach for solid liver tumors without serum increase of tumor markers should rule out FNH and hemangioma. In all other patients surgery should be considered whenever possible with the radicality of malignant disease. Liver transplantation can be discussed even in asymptomatic patients with multiple adenoma.