| Hepatocellular adenoma | 
| Micrograph of a hepatic adenoma (bottom of image). H&E stain. | 
| Classification and external resources | 
| ICD-O | M8170/0 | 
| DiseasesDB | 5726 | 
| eMedicine | med/48 | 
| MeSH | D018248 | 
Hepatocellular adenoma, also hepatic adenoma, or rarely hepadenoma, is an uncommon benign liver tumor which is associated with the use of hormonal contraception with a high estrogen content.[1] Patients taking higher potency hormones, patients of advanced age, or patients with prolonged duration of use have a significantly increased risk of developing hepatocellular adenomas.[2]
Contents
- 1 Signs and Symptoms
- 2 Diagnosis
- 2.1 Radiologic differential diagnosis
- 2.2 Pathologic diagnosis
 
- 3 Etiology
- 4 Related Conditions
- 5 Treatment
- 6 Additional images
- 7 References
- 8 External links
 
Signs and Symptoms
About 25-50% of hepatic adenomas cause pain in the right upper quadrant or epigastric region of the abdomen.[2] Since hepatic adenomas can be large (8–15 cm), patients may notice a palpable mass. However, hepatic adenomas are usually asymptomatic, and may be discovered incidentally on imaging ordered for some unrelated reason.[2] If not treated, there is a 30% risk of bleeding.[3] Bleeding may lead to hypotension, tachycardia, and sweating (diaphoresis).
Diagnosis
It is important to distinguish hepatic adenoma from other benign liver tumors, such as hemangiomas and focal nodular hyperplasia, because hepatic adenomas have a small but meaningful risk of progressing into a malignancy.[3] MRI is the most useful investigation in the diagnosis and work-up.[4] A poly-phasic CT scan is another useful test for diagnosing hepatic adenoma.[3]
Large hepatic adenomas have a tendency to rupture and bleed massively inside the abdomen.
Radiologic differential diagnosis
- Echinococcal cyst
- Focal fatty change
- Focal nodular hyperplasia
- Hepatoblastoma
- Infiltrative liver disease
- Inflammatory pseudotumor
- Leiomyosarcoma
- Lymphoma
- Nodular regenerative hyperplasia
Pathologic diagnosis
Micrograph of a 
hepatic adenoma demonstrating a regular reticulin scaffold. Reticulin stain.
 
 
 
Hepatic adenomas are, typically, well-circumscribed nodules that consist of sheets of hepatocytes with a bubbly vacuolated cytoplasm. The hepatocytes are on a regular reticulin scaffold and less or equal to three cell thick.
The histologic diagnosis of hepatic adenomas can be aided by reticulin staining. In hepatic adenomas, the reticulin scaffold is preserved and hepatocytes do not form layers of four or more hepatocytes, as is seen in hepatocellular carcinoma.
Cells resemble normal hepatocytes and are traversed by blood vessels but lack portal tracts or central veins.
Etiology
Ninety percent of hepatic adenomas arise in women aged 20–40, most of whom use oral contraceptives.
Related Conditions
Hepatic adenomas are related to glycogen storage diseases, type 1, as well as anabolic steroid use.
Treatment
Some authors feel that all hepatocellular adenoma should be resected, because of the risk of rupture causing bleeding and because they may contain malignant foci.[5] Current recommendations are that all hepatic adenomas should be resected, as long as they are surgically accessible and the patient is a reasonable operative candidate.[6] Patients with adenomas should avoid oral contraceptives or hormonal replacement therapy.
Pregnancy could cause the adenoma to grow faster, so patients with hepatic adenomas should avoid pregnancy.[7]
Additional images
- 
Micrograph of hepatic adenoma. H&E stain. 
 
 
- 
Micrograph of hepatic adenoma. Reticulin stain. 
 
 
References
- ^ Rooks J, Ory H, Ishak K, Strauss L, Greenspan J, Hill A, Tyler C (1979). "Epidemiology of hepatocellular adenoma. The role of oral contraceptive use.". JAMA 242 (7): 644–8. doi:10.1001/jama.242.7.644. PMID 221698. 
- ^ a b c "Hepatocellular Adenoma: eMedicine Gastroenterology". 
- ^ a b c Anthony S. Fauci , Eugene Braunwald, Dennis L. Kasper, Stephen L. Hauser, Dan L. Longo, J. Larry Jameson, Joseph Loscalzo (2008). Harrison's principles of internal medicine (17th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Medical. pp. Chapter 92 (benign liver tumors). ISBN 978-0071466332. 
- ^ Hussain S, van den Bos I, Dwarkasing R, Kuiper J, den Hollander J (2006). "Hepatocellular adenoma: findings at state-of-the-art magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, computed tomography and pathologic analysis.". Eur Radiol 16 (9): 1873–86. doi:10.1007/s00330-006-0292-4. PMID 16708218. 
- ^ Toso C, Majno P, Andres A, Rubbia-Brandt L, Berney T, Buhler L, Morel P, Mentha G (2005). "Management of hepatocellular adenoma: solitary-uncomplicated, multiple and ruptured tumors.". World J Gastroenterol 11 (36): 5691–5. PMID 16237767. Full text
- ^ Cho, S; Marsh J; Steel J et al. (2008). "Surgical management of hepatocellular adenoma: take it or leave it?". Ann Surg Oncol (15): 2795–2803.  
- ^ "Hepatocellular Adenoma Treatment & Management". WebMD. Medscape. Retrieved 11 July 2012. 
 
External links
- University of Utah - Pathology Images
| 
| Glandular and epithelial neoplasms (ICD-O 8010-8589) |  
|  |  
| Epithelium | 
| Papilloma/carcinoma (8010-8139)
 | 
Small cell carcinomaCombined small cell carcinomaVerrucous carcinomaSquamous cell carcinomaBasal cell carcinomaTransitional cell carcinomaInverted papilloma |  |  
|  |  
| Glands | 
| Adenomas/ 
 adenocarcinomas(8140-8429)
 | 
| Gastrointestinal | 
tract: Linitis plasticaFamilial adenomatous polyposis 
pancreas
InsulinomaGlucagonomaGastrinomaVIPomaSomatostatinoma 
CholangiocarcinomaKlatskin tumorHepatocellular adenoma/Hepatocellular carcinoma |  
|  |  
| Urogenital | 
Renal cell carcinomaEndometrioid tumorRenal oncocytoma |  
|  |  
| Endocrine | 
ProlactinomaMultiple endocrine neoplasiaAdrenocortical adenoma/Adrenocortical carcinomaHurthle cell |  
|  |  
| Other/multiple | 
Neuroendocrine tumor
Adenoid cystic carcinomaOncocytomaClear cell adenocarcinomaApudomaCylindromaPapillary hidradenoma |  |  
|  |  
| Adnexal and skin appendage (8390-8429)
 | 
sweat gland
Syringocystadenoma papilliferum |  
|  |  
| Cystic, mucinous, and serous (8440-8499)
 | 
| Cystic general | 
Cystadenoma/Cystadenocarcinoma |  
|  |  
| Mucinous | 
Signet ring cell carcinoma
Mucinous cystadenoma / Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma
Mucoepidermoid carcinoma |  
|  |  
| Serous | 
Ovarian serous cystadenoma / Pancreatic serous cystadenoma / Serous cystadenocarcinoma / Papillary serous cystadenocarcinoma |  |  
|  |  
| Ductal, lobular, and medullary (8500-8549)
 | 
| Ductal carcinoma | 
Mammary ductal carcinomaPancreatic ductal carcinomaComedocarcinomaPaget's disease of the breast / Extramammary Paget's disease |  
|  |  
| Lobular carcinoma | 
Lobular carcinoma in situInvasive lobular carcinoma |  
|  |  
| Medullary carcinoma | 
Medullary carcinoma of the breastMedullary thyroid cancer |  |  
|  |  
| Acinar cell (8550-8559) |  |  |  
|  |  
| Other | 
| Complex epithelial (8560-8589) |  |  |  
|  |  
| 
See alsoTemplate:Epithelium and epithelial tissue |  | 
| 
| Digestive system neoplasia (C15–C26/D12–D13, 150–159/211) |  
|  |  
| GI tract | 
| Upper | 
| Esophagus | 
Squamous cell carcinomaAdenocarcinoma |  
|  |  
| Stomach | 
Gastric carcinomaSignet ring cell carcinomaGastric lymphoma
Linitis plastica |  |  
|  |  
| Lower | 
| Small intestine |  |  
|  |  
| Appendix | 
CarcinoidPseudomyxoma peritonei |  
|  |  
| Colon/rectum | 
colorectal polyp: Peutz–Jeghers syndromeJuvenile polyposis syndromeFamilial adenomatous polyposis/Gardner's syndromeCronkhite–Canada syndrome 
neoplasm: AdenocarcinomaFamilial adenomatous polyposisHereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer |  
|  |  
| Anus |  |  |  
|  |  
| Upper and/or lower | 
Gastrointestinal stromal tumorKrukenberg tumor (metastatic) |  |  
|  |  
| Accessory | 
| Liver | 
malignant: Hepatocellular carcinoma
Hepatoblastoma 
benign: Hepatocellular adenomaCavernous hemangioma 
hyperplasia: Focal nodular hyperplasiaNodular regenerative hyperplasia |  
|  |  
| Biliary tract | 
bile duct: CholangiocarcinomaKlatskin tumor 
gallbladder: Gallbladder cancer |  
|  |  
| Pancreas | 
exocrine pancreas: AdenocarcinomaPancreatic ductal carcinoma 
cystic neoplasms: Serous microcystic adenomaIntraductal papillary mucinous neoplasmMucinous cystic neoplasmSolid pseudopapillary neoplasm |  |  
|  |  
| Peritoneum | 
Primary peritoneal carcinomaPeritoneal mesotheliomaDesmoplastic small round cell tumor |  
|  |  
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| Index of digestion |  
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| Description | 
Anatomy
Physiology
Development |  
|  |  
| Disease | 
CongenitalNeoplasms and cancerInflammatory bowel diseaseGluten sensitivityOtherSymptoms and signs
Blood tests |  
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| Treatment | 
ProceduresDrugs
anabolic steroidsantacidsdiarrhoea and infectionbile and liverfunctional gastrointestinal disorderslaxativespeptic ulcer and refluxnausea and vomitingotherSurgery |  |  |