Management of the focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver: evaluation of the surgical treatment comparing with observation only

BACKGROUND: Long-term results of both surgery and observation for patients with focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) in a large single-center experience do not exist. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to compare long-term outcomes in patients with FNH who underwent either elective hepatectomy or observation alone. METHODS: A retrospective single-institution analysis of 185 patients with FNH, treated from 1990 to 2009, was performed. RESULTS: Seventy-eight patients underwent elective hepatectomy and 107 patients observation alone, with a median follow-up period of 113 months. There was no perioperative mortality. Postoperative complications were recorded in 12 patients, and 92% of patients reported symptomatic reductions. Among observation patients, 9 (13%) developed additional symptoms; tumor enlargement was seen in 3 patients (4%). CONCLUSIONS: Elective liver resection for FNH is a safe procedure at high-volume centers. This single-center experience showed that 13% of observed patients had protracted symptoms. This justifies the therapeutic algorithm that elective surgery should be considered in symptomatic patients or in those with marked enlargement. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.