[Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of benign liver tumors and tumor-like lesions]. Chirurg. 2008;79:707-721. [PMID: 18566783 DOI: 10.1007/s00104-008-1522-x]

Proposal of an ultrasonographic classification for hepatic alveolar echinococcosis: Echinococcosis multilocularis Ulm classification-ultrasound

AIM: To establish an ultrasonographic classification based on a large sample of patients with confirmed hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (AE).

METHODS: Clinical data and ultrasonography (US) findings of 185 patients (100 males; 85 females; mean age at diagnosis: 51.4 ± 17.6 years; mean age at time of US examination: 58.7 ± 18.2 years) were retrospectively reviewed with respect to the US morphology of hepatic AE lesions. The sonomorphological findings were grouped according to a five-part classification scheme.

RESULTS: Application of the new classification resulted in the following distribution of sonomorphological patterns among the patients examined: hailstorm (54.1%); pseudocystic (13.5%); ossification (13.0%); hemangioma-like (8.1%); and metastasis-like (6.5%). Only 4.9% of lesions could not be assigned to a sonomorphological pattern.

CONCLUSION: The sonomorphological classification proposed in the present study facilitates the diagnosis, interpretation and comparison of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis in routine practice and in the context of scientific studies.

The value of liver resection for focal nodular hyperplasia: resection yes or no?

Background

Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) are benign lesions in the liver. Although liver resection is generally not indicated in these patients, rare indications for surgical approaches indeed exist. We here report on our single-center experience with patients undergoing liver resection for FNH, focussing on preoperative diagnostic algorithms and quality of life (QoL) after surgery.

Methods

Medical records of 100 consecutive patients undergoing liver resection for FNH between 1992 and 2012 were retrospectively analyzed with regard to diagnostic pathways and indications for surgery. Quality of life (QoL) before and after surgery was evaluated using validated assessment tools. Student’s t test, one-way ANOVA, χ², and binary logistic regression analyses such as Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney test were used, as indicated.

Results

A combination of at least two preoperative diagnostic imaging approaches was applied in 99 cases, of which 70 patients were subjected to further imaging or tumor biopsy. In most patients, there was more than one indication for liver resection, including tumor-associated symptoms with abdominal discomfort (n = 46, 40.7 %), balance of risk for malignancy/history of cancer (n = 54, 47.8 %/n = 18; 33.3 %), tumor enlargement/jaundice of vascular and biliary structures (n = 13, 11.5 %), such as incidental findings during elective operation (n = 1, 0.9 %). Postoperative morbidity was 19 %, with serious complications (>grade 2, Clavien–Dindo classification) being evident in 8 %. Perioperative mortality was 0 %. Liver resection was associated with a significant overall improvement in general health (very good–excellent: preoperatively 47.4 % vs. postoperatively 68.1 %; p = 0.015).

Conclusions

Liver resection remains a valuable therapeutic option in the treatment of either symptomatic FNH or if malignancy cannot finally be ruled out. If clinically indicated, liver resection for FNH represents a safe approach and may lead to significant improvements of QoL especially in symptomatic patients.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40001-015-0181-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

[Incidence of non-metastatic liver lesions in tumor patients: consequences for chemotherapy and local ablative procedures]

INTRODUCTION

Even in patients with a history of solid malignant tumors, especially of gastrointestinal origin, newly diagnosed solid liver lesions do not necessarily correspond to metastases of the respective primary tumor. A reliable diagnosis can only be made by definitive histological examination.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Data of all patients who underwent liver resection under the preoperative diagnosis of liver metastases between 1997 and 2011 and for whom liver specimens were examined histologically, were extracted from the prospectively maintained cancer registry.

RESULTS

An unexpected histological result occurred in 47 out of 770 patients (6.1 %). Primary tumors in these patients included renal cell (n=12), colorectal (n=11), breast (n=8), gastric (n=4), pancreatic (n=3), skin (n=3) and other cancers (n=6). Liver lesions were diagnosed synchronously in 15 cases or metachronously after a median of 17 months following primary therapy in 32 patients. Histology revealed a benign tumor in 38 cases (81 %) as well as 6 cases of HCC, 2 cases of CCC and in 1 case metastasis of a previously unknown colorectal cancer in a patient with known esophageal carcinoma. Suspicion of metastatic disease was based on four different imaging modalities in two cases and on three different imaging modalities in nine cases. Either computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was combined with ultrasound in another 23 patients and with positron emission tomography (PET) CT in 6 more cases. In two patients CT plus MRI and CT only, respectively, was performed. In the remaining three patients, suspicion of metastases occurred intraoperatively after macroscopic examination of the liver. Preoperative percutaneous biopsy was attempted in four patients with indeterminate results.

CONCLUSION

Even with modern diagnostics the risk of treating a benign or other form of malignant tumor with neoadjuvant or palliative chemotherapy persists. The same holds true for local ablative procedures. Prior to local ablation or definitive palliative chemotherapy histological confirmation of metastases should be attempted.

Benign solid tumors of the liver: management in the modern era

BACKGROUND

Recently, there has been a growing interest in solid benign liver tumors as the understanding of the pathogenesis and molecular underpinning of these lesions continues to evolve. We herein provide an evidence-based review of benign solid liver tumors with particular emphasis on the diagnosis and management of such tumors.

METHODS

A search of all available literature on benign hepatic tumors through a search of the MEDLINE/PubMed electronic database was conducted.

RESULTS

New diagnostic and management protocols for benign liver tumors have emerged, as well as new insights into the molecular pathogenesis. In turn, these data have spawned a number of new studies seeking to correlate molecular, clinicopathological, and clinical outcomes for benign liver tumors. In addition, significant advances in surgical techniques and perioperative care have reduced the morbidity and mortality of liver surgery. Despite current data that supports conservative management for many patients with benign liver tumors, patients with severe preoperative symptomatic disease seem to benefit substantially from surgical treatment based on quality of life data.

CONCLUSION

Future studies should seek to further advance our understanding of the underlying pathogenesis and natural history of benign liver tumors in order to provide clinicians with evidence-based guidelines to optimize treatment of patients with these lesions.

Isolated hepatobiliary cryptococcosis manifesting as obstructive jaundice in an immunocompetent child: case report and review of the literature

The majority of patients with symptomatic cryptococcosis have an underlying immunocompromising condition. In the absence of coexisting immunocompromising condition, Cryptococcus neoformans is rarely considered in the differential diagnosis of obstructive jaundice that occurs in children with hilar masslike lesion. Here, we report a 5-year-old boy without immunoglobulin or lymphocyte abnormalities who developed a hepatobiliary infection with C. neoformans. Ultrasonography and computed tomography showed dilatation of the bilateral intrahepatic bile ducts and a low-attenuated mass in the hepatic hilum. Microscopic examination of tissue samples revealed abundant numbers of encapsulated yeast cell suggestive of C. neoformans. After 4 months of antifungal therapy (liposomal amphotericin B for 2 weeks and oral fluconazole for 3 months), the disease was effectively controlled. Unnecessary operation could be avoided by an early and accurate diagnosis. By sharing our experience, we suggest hepatobiliary surgeons and gastroenterologists should have a suspicion of this unusual entity to make earlier diagnosis and treatment.

"Incidentaloma" of the liver: management of a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma

The continuous development of highly sensitive clinical imaging increased the detection of focal lesions of the liver. These accidentally detected liver tumors without liver-specific symptoms such as cholestasis have been named “incidentalomas.” Diagnostic tools such as sonography, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging are used increasingly in asymptomatic individuals without defined suspected diagnoses in the setting of general prevention or followup after a history of malignancy. But despite continuous improvement of diagnostics, some doubt regarding the benign or malign behavior of a tumor remains. In case an asymptomatic hemangioma or FNH can be preoperatively detected with certainty, the indication for surgery must be very strict. In case of symptomatic liver lesions surgical resection should only be indicated with tumor-specific symptoms. In the remaining cases of benign lesions of the liver, a “watch and wait” strategy is recommended. In case of uncertain diagnosis, especially in patients with positive history of a malignant tumor or the suspected diagnosis of hepatocellular adenoma, surgical resection is indicated. Due to the continuous improvement of surgical techniques, liver resection should be done in the laparoscopic technique. Laparoscopic surgery has lower morbidity and shorter hospitalization than open technique.