Natural course of hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia: A long-term follow-up study with sonography

• Published in: Journal of clinical ultrasound Vol. 37; no. 3; pp. 132 - 137
• Main Authors: Kuo, Yuan-Hung, Wang, Jing-Houng, Lu, Sheng-Nan, Hung, Chao-Hung, Wei, Yu-Ching, Hu, Tsung-Hui, Chen, Chien-Hung, Yen, Yi-Hao, Lee, Chuan-Mo, Eng, Hock-Liew
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.03.2009
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biopsy, Fine-Needle; Contrast Media; Female; focal nodular hyperplasia; Focal Nodular Hyperplasia - diagnostic imaging; Focal Nodular Hyperplasia - pathology; follow-up; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Image Enhancement - methods; Liver - diagnostic imaging; Liver - pathology; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; Middle Aged; natural course; Odds Ratio; Remission, Spontaneous; Retrospective Studies; Time; Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods; ultrasonography; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color - methods; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0091-2751; 1097-0096
• DOI: 10.1002/jcu.20533

Purpose. We aimed to investigate the natural course of hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) in a long‐term follow‐up study with sonography. Method. This study comprised 30 patients (24 women and 6 men) with 34 FNHs. Diagnosis of FNH was made using color Doppler sonography, contrast‐enhanced CT, or MRI in combination with needle biopsy. Patients were followed every 3 to 6 months with sonography. Regression or progression of tumor was defined as a change of over 30% in maximal diameter. Disappearance was defined as no vizualization of the tumor on at least 3 follow‐up sonographic examinations. Results. Thirty‐four FNHs were followed over a mean period of 42 months (range, 7–95 months). Twenty‐four lesions (70.6%) were stable in size, 1 (2.9%) progressed, and 9 (26.5%) regressed. Of those that regressed, 6 (17.6%) disappeared over a mean period of 59 ± 30 months (range, 20–95 months). Older age (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.02–1.56; p < 0.05) and longer follow‐up time (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.01–1.21; p < 0.05) were the independent factors associated with complete regression of FNH. Conclusion. Most FNHs were stable or regressed/disappeared after a long follow‐up period. Based on the benign course, conservative treatment for asymptomatic FNH should be advocated. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 2009.