Liver adenoma and focal nodular hyperplasia associated with oral contraceptives

We report the case of a woman, with a 15-year history of high-dosage oral contraceptive use, who came to our center for a gynecological screening. Elevated liver enzymes were detected in blood samples and an abdominal ultrasound showed a hypoechogenic nodular image of 8 cm in the right hepatic lobe of the liver. Routine examinations, including hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis C viral antibody and α-fetoprotein, were all negative. Imaging studies, including computerized tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging, sulfur colloid gammagraphy and hepatic angiography, were performed and confirmed the presence of the lesion, detecting the characteristic central scar structure of focal nodular hyperplasia. Discontinuation of oral contraceptives and follow-up showed no change in lesion size so that a surgical approach was adopted in order to remove the hepatocellular carcinoma. Pathological findings confirmed focal nodular hyperplasia.