Introduction: Hepatic adenomas (HA) are benign tumours which can present serious complications, and as such, in the past all were resected. It has now been shown that those smaller than 3 cm not expressing β-catenin only result in complications in exceptional cases and therefore the therapeutic strategy has been changed.
Material and method: Retrospective study in 14 HPB units.
Inclusion criteria: patients with resected and histologically confirmed HA.
Study period: 1995-2011.
Results: 81 patients underwent surgery. Age: 39.5 years (range: 14-75). Sex: female (75%). Consumption of oestrogen in women: 33%. Size: 8.8 cm (range, 1-20 cm). Only 6 HA (7.4%) were smaller than 3 cm. The HA median was 1 (range: 1-12). Nine patients had adenomatosis (>10HA). A total of 51% of patients displayed symptoms, the most frequent (77%) being abdominal pain. Eight patients (10%) began with acute abdomen due to rupture and/or haemorrhage. A total of 67% of the preoperative diagnoses were correct. Surgery was scheduled for 90% of patients. The techniques employed were: major hepatectomy (22%), minor hepatectomy (77%) and one liver transplantation. A total of 20% were performed laparoscopically. The morbidity rate was 28%. There were no cases of mortality. Three patients had malignisation (3.7%). The follow-up period was 43 months (range 1-192). Two recurrences were detected and resected.
Discussion: Patients with resected HA are normally women with large lesions and oestrogen consumption was lower than expected. Its correct preoperative diagnosis is acceptable (70%). The major hepatectomy rate is 25% and the laparoscopy rate is 20%. There was a low morbidity rate and no mortality.
Keywords: Adenoma; Cirugía; Hígado; Liver; Review; Surgery.
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