Isolated liver nodules.

Thirteen examples of isolated liver nodules were examined in 7 persons, 4 with single nodules and 3 with multiple nodules. Pathologically they present a spectrum from a solid structure that resembles liver parenchyma with varying degrees of disorganization and fibrosis to soft and fatty enough to superficially resemble a lipoma. Abnormal blood vessels were commonly found in and around the nodules, and the nodules were all ischemic compared to surrounding normal liver. The association of abnormal blood vessels and ischemia may be a cause and effect relationship. Studies by angiography might prove two things: (1) that the presence of abnormal blood vessels is constant in the lesions; (2) that the vessels, although relatively large, fail to provide adequate blood supply to the area, either by lack of branches or by some type of shunting mechanism. Review of cases of "lipoma of the liver" reported in the literature suggest that the lesions described are, in fact, the fatty type of isolated liver nodules.