A liver cell adenoma is a type of benign growth that impacts the liver. In many cases, a person may not even realize that they have the condition due to the lack of symptoms. When symptoms like nausea and abdominal discomfort do occur, they are often quite mild.
In some cases, liver cell adenomas can lead to more serious complications. However, proper treatment can help you avoid these potential complications.
A smaller liver cell adenoma, meaning one that measures less than two inches in length, will usually not cause any symptoms. As a result, your doctor may opt not to remove the growth and instead monitor it for the time being.
When adenomas are larger than two inches, they carry an increased risk of rupture. A ruptured adenoma will cause internal bleeding, which can sometimes be life-threatening depending on the size of the benign tumour.
There is also a small chance that the growth will develop into cancer. This is especially true of large adenomas, as well as those that result from a protein called beta-catenin. In general, men with liver cell adenomas have a higher risk of developing liver cancer.
Your physician may recommend surgery to address the liver growth if the following circumstances apply:
Keep in mind that liver cell adenomas are exceedingly rare, and experiencing complications are even rarer still. With the right approach, this condition usually has a limited impact on a person’s long-term health.