Liver cell adenoma is also called hepatic adenoma. This condition is caused by a benign tumour on the liver. This is not cancer, and the tumour cells will not spread to other parts of the body. This condition is very rare and is more common in women due to a link between liver cell adenoma and birth control pills.
This condition often does not cause any symptoms. Many patients do not know that they have a liver cell adenoma until it is large enough to cause a lump or pain in the stomach region. You might also feel bloated without having any pain. Other associated symptoms of liver cell adenoma are:
These symptoms are more likely to be present if the tumour is bleeding or has burst. If you are experiencing these symptoms, you need to seek medical care right away, as these could be signs of a life-threatening emergency.
Anyone is susceptible to liver cell adenoma. They are more common in women, but men get them as well. This condition is caused by changes in your genes via mutation. There are some risk factors that can predispose you to get a liver cell adenoma:
Diagnosis of this condition requires an ultrasound of the liver. Your doctor might also take blood tests to check your liver values. If there is evidence of a tumour, a more detailed scan, such as a CT scan or an MRI, might need to be done.
A biopsy of the liver is often the last step to confirm that the tumour is benign and not cancerous. The tissue that is taken during your biopsy will be sent to a lab that will confirm what type of cells are in the sample.
There are four types of Liver Cell Adenoma, but they are all treated in the same way in most cases. The four types are:
The treatment for these types of liver cell adenoma is almost always the same. Women will need to stop taking oestrogen products and birth control pills. Men will be advised to stop taking steroids and other hormone-based products as well. Both sexes might be advised to lose weight as well.
Surgery is a common intervention for tumours that are 5 cm or greater in size. Tumours that are smaller than this will be monitored every six months to see if they grow to a size that does require surgical intervention. Trans arterial embolization can also be done to starve the tumour of blood flow or radiofrequency ablation, which works through the use of an electric current to stop the pain and manage tumour size.
Prevention of liver cell adenoma usually involves avoiding taking hormone-based products if possible. You should also refrain from taking street drugs and avoid smoking and drinking. Eating a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy weight can also help to prevent liver cell adenoma.