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.
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.
Authors: Christopher B Nahm; Kevin Ng; Philip Lockie; Jaswinder S Samra; Thomas J Hugh Journal: J Gastrointest Surg Date: 2011-09-30 Impact factor: 3.452