Liver adenoma, also known as hepatocellular adenoma, is a rare type of benign liver tumor that is caused by changes in hormone levels and is therefore more common in women between 20 and 50 years old, after pregnancy.or because of prolonged use of oral contraceptives, for example.
Liver adenoma usually produces no symptoms, so it is almost always accidentally identified during a CT scan or ultrasound to try to diagnose another problem.
- As it is not serious and is considered a benign tumor.
- Adenoma does not usually require any specific treatment.
- It is only recommended to remain alert with periodic scans.
- As although it is very small.
- There is a risk of malignancy or rupture.
- Resulting in internal bleeding.
In most cases, liver adenoma does not cause symptoms; However, some people may report mild and constant pain in the upper right abdomen.
Although rare, adenoma can rupture and bleed in the abdominal cavity; In such cases, it is common to experience very strong and sudden abdominal pain, which does not improve and is accompanied by other symptoms of hemorrhagic shock such as increased heart rate, feeling weak.or excessive sweating. If the adenoma ruptures, it is advisable to go to the hospital immediately to stop the bleeding.
Learn about other signs of hemorrhagic shock
Hepatocellular adenoma is almost always identified during an exam to diagnose another problem, so doing so recommends consulting a hepatologist for a more specific examination and confirming the presence of adenoma. The most commonly used tests are ultrasound, MRI, or CT scans.
During these tests, your doctor may also identify the type of liver adenoma to better guide treatment:
Your doctor usually only recommends monitoring the size of the tumor, however, in the case of inflammation, for example, if you are more than 5 cm tall, your doctor may opt for surgery to remove it completely.
Because liver adenoma is almost always benign, the main form of treatment is to continuously monitor its size, using tests such as CT scans, MRI or just ultrasounds; However, if adenoma occurs in a woman using birth control, your doctor may advise you to stop using it and choose another method of birth control, as the use of the pill can contribute to the development of the tumor.The same goes for people who use a certain type of anabolic, for example.
If the tumor develops over time or is more than 5 cm long, there is an increased risk of rupture or cancer and therefore it is common for a doctor to recommend surgery to remove the injury and prevent it from occurring.This surgery is usually quite simple and low risk, it is performed under general anesthesia in the hospital, although surgery may also be recommended for women who are thinking of becoming pregnant, as there is an increased risk that the adenoma will cause complications during pregnancy.
If the adenoma has ruptured, the treatment used is also surgery, to stop bleeding and eliminate the injury; in these cases, treatment should be initiated as soon as possible to prevent significant and life-threatening blood loss.
There are two main complications of liver adenoma
These complications are more common in tumors larger than 5 cm and therefore treatment is most often done by surgery to remove the lesion, but they can also occur in smaller tumors, so it is very important to regularly follow up on the hepatologist.