Angiographic Findings in Benign Liver Cell Tumors

Abstract

Angiographic features in 2 cases of benign liver cell adenoma and 4 of focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) are presented. The lesions were all hypervascular and all but one had sharp margins. In both of the adenomas and in 2 cases of FNH, the arterial supply originated at the periphery of the mass with multiple relatively parallel feeding vessels coursing toward the center. There was no evidence of arteriovenous shunting, portal vein invasion, or vascular laking. Comparison is made with 8 malignant hepatic neoplasms. The angiographic findings of benign lesions usually differ sufficiently from those of most malignant hepatomas to enable presumptive diagnosis. Pathologic differentiation of various benign liver cell masses is discussed and possible etiologic association of hepatic adenomas and oral contraceptives is suggested.