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

Surgical indications for solid hepatic benign tumors: An updated literature review

Hepatic hemangioma, focal nodular hyperplasia, and hepatic adenoma are the most common benign solid liver tumors. However, their surgical indications have been the subject of debate. Minimally invasive liver resection reduces the cost of surgery and may lead to overtreatment of benign liver tumors. Recently, there has been a growing understanding of the etiology, pathogenesis, and natural history of these tumors. Great progress has also been made in imaging. The use of MRI and contrast agents has improved the accuracy of non-invasive diagnosis of these tumors, and especially in the identification of specific molecular subtypes of liver adenoma. These factors have resulted in alterations of surgical indications for these tumors. This article examines recent literature and it discusses the surgical indications for hepatic hemangioma, focal nodular hyperplasia, and hepatic adenoma while summarizing modifications in clinical management.

Pedunculated Focal Nodular Hyperplasia: When in Doubt, Should We Cut It Out?

Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) is the second most common benign hepatic tumor and can rarely present as an exophytic solitary mass attached to the liver by a stalk. Most FNH cases are usually detected as incidental findings during surgery, imaging or physical examination and have a high female predominance. However, the pedunculated forms of FNH are particularly rare and commonly associated with severe complications and diagnostic challenges. Hence, our study aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the available data on the pedunculated FNH cases among adults and children. Furthermore, we will highlight the role of different therapeutic options in treating this clinical entity. The use of imaging techniques is considered a significant addition to the diagnostic toolbox. Regarding the optimal treatment strategy, the main indications for surgery were the presence of symptoms, diagnostic uncertainty and increased risk of complications, based on the current literature. Herein, we also propose a management algorithm for patients with suspected FNH lesions. Therefore, a high index of suspicion and awareness of this pathology and its life-threatening complications, as an uncommon etiology of acute abdomen, is of utmost importance in order to achieve better clinical outcomes.

Development of a set of patient reported outcome measures for patients with benign liver tumours and cysts: patient focus groups and systematic review

BACKGROUND

Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) may be useful for patients with benign liver tumours and cysts (BLTC) to evaluate the impact of treatment and/or guide shared decision making. Yet, a set of PROMs relevant to patients with BLTC is currently unavailable. In this study, we selected a PROMs set for patients with BLTC.

METHODS

Potentially relevant patient reported outcomes (PROs) were selected by psychologist-researchers based on keywords used or suggested by participants of two virtual focus groups meetings consisting of thirteen female BLTC patients with a median age of 50 years. Subsequently, patients were asked to report their most relevant PROs. PROMs identified by systematic literature review and computerized adaptive tests (CATs) in the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) were considered in selecting the final PROMs set to assess relevant outcomes.

RESULTS

The most important PROs were: insecurity/anxiety (11/12 patients), pain (9/12 patients), fatigue (8/12 patients), and limitations in daily life (5/12 patients). The literature review included 23 studies, which used various generic and disease-specific PROMs, often not measuring (all) relevant PROs. The final selected PROMs set included numerical rating scales for pain, two questions on overall health and quality of life and four PROMIS CATs.

CONCLUSIONS

A PROMs set generically and efficiently measuring outcomes relevant for patients with BLTC was developed and may be used in future research and clinical practice.

Benign liver lesions 2022: Guideline for clinical practice of Associazione Italiana Studio del Fegato (AISF), Società Italiana di Radiologia Medica e Interventistica (SIRM), Società Italiana di Chirurgia (SIC), Società Italiana di Ultrasonologia in Medicina e Biologia (SIUMB), Associazione Italiana di Chirurgia Epatobilio-Pancreatica (AICEP), Società Italiana Trapianti d'Organo (SITO), Società Italiana di Anatomia Patologica e Citologia Diagnostica (SIAPEC-IAP) - Part II - Solid lesions

Benign liver lesions are increasingly diagnosed in daily clinical practice due to the growing use of imaging techniques for the study of the abdomen in patients who have non-specific symptoms and do not have an increased risk of hepatic malignancy. They include simple or parasitic hepatic cysts and solid benign tumors which differ widely in terms of prevalence, clinical relevance, symptoms and natural history and often lead to significant clinical problems relating to diagnosis and clinical management. Following the need to have updated guidelines on the management of benign focal liver lesions, the Scientific Societies mainly involved in their management have promoted the drafting of a new dedicated document. This document was drawn up according to the present Italian rules and methodologies necessary to produce clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic guidelines based on evidence. Here we present the second part of the guideline, concerning the diagnosis and clinical management of hemangioma, focal nodular hyperplasia, and hepatocellular adenoma.

Impact of open and minimally invasive resection of symptomatic solid benign liver tumours on symptoms and quality of life: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

The value of open and minimally invasive liver resection for symptomatic solid benign liver tumours (BLT) such as hepatocellular adenoma, focal nodular hyperplasia and haemangioma is being debated. A systematic review on symptom relief, quality of life (QoL) and surgical outcome after both open and minimally invasive surgery for solid BLT is currently lacking.

METHODS

A systematic search in PubMed and EMBASE was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines (January 1985-April 2018). Articles reporting pre-and postoperative symptoms or QoL in patients undergoing open or minimally surgery for BLT were evaluated. Methodological quality was assessed using the MINORS tool.

RESULTS

Forty-two studies were included with 4061 patients undergoing surgery for BLT, 3536 (87%) open and 525 (13%) laparoscopic resections. Randomized and propensity-matched studies were lacking. Symptoms were the indication for resection in 56% of the patients. After a weighted mean of 28.5 months follow-up after surgery, symptoms were relieved in 82% of symptomatic patients. Validated QoL tools were used in eight studies, of which two found significant better QoL scores following laparoscopic compared to open surgery.

DISCUSSION

Resection of symptomatic BLT seems safe and relieves symptoms in the vast majority of selected patients. Comparative studies are needed before more firm conclusions can be drawn.

Surgical indications for focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver: Single-center experience of 48 adult cases

Backgrounds/Aims

Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) is one of the most common benign tumors of the liver. There is still a lack of evidence on surgical indications for FNH. This study intended to analyze the surgical indications for FNH.

Methods

We analyzed 48 cases of FNH diagnosed after hepatic resection.

Results

Common reasons leading to surgical resection were diagnostic uncertainty (n=31), and persistent symptoms (n=8). None of our patients had a past history of contraceptive use. Percutaneous biopsy was performed in 14 patients and FNH was diagnosed in nine patients, and hepatic adenoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, plasmacytoma, angiosarcoma, and atypical hepatocellular proliferation in one patient each. Minor hepatectomy (n=37) was performed more frequently than major hepatectomy (n=11). Open hepatectomy (n=29) was performed more frequently than laparoscopic hepatectomy (n=19), but laparoscopic and minimally-invasive surgery was frequently performed during the late phase of the study period. Postoperative surgical complications occurred in two patients (4.1%).

Conclusions

FNH can be diagnosed by imaging studies, but surgical treatment may be considered in cases of diagnostic uncertainty or persistent symptoms.

Changes in the types of liver diseases requiring hepatic resection: a single-institution experience of 9016 cases over a 10-year period

Backgrounds/Aims

To understand the changing demands for hepatic resection (HR), we collected data regarding HR performed in a tertiary centre over a period of 10 years.

Methods

We carried out extensive search of institutional databases to identify HR cases performed between January 2005 and December 2014. A study cohort of 9,016 patients were divided into 5 disease categories, namely hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), intrahepatic duct stone disease (IHDS), colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRLM), and uncommon/rare diseases (URD).

Results

There were 5,661 (62.8%) HCC cases, followed by 1441 (16.0%) CRLM, 942 (10.5%) ICC, 638 (7.1%) IHDS and 334 (3.7%) URD. The number of annual HR cases gradually increased from 443 in 2005 to 1,260 in 2015. Annual HCC cases also gradually increased, but the annual proportion of HCC cases fluctuated narrowly between 58.3% and 70.2%. Annual CRLM cases increased rapidly, and their proportion increased progressively from 4.7% to 20.5%. Annual ICC cases increased slowly, and their annual proportion fluctuated between 7.2% and 15.6%. Annual IHDS cases decreased slowly, and their annual proportion decreased progressively from 17.2% to 3.4%, while annual URD cases fluctuated, with annual proportions varying between 2.3% and 5.6%.

Conclusions

Annual cases of HR increased over the last 10 years in a tertiary center probably due to a center-specific centralization effect. The number of CRLM cases increased rapidly; those of HCC and ICC increased gradually, and those of IHDS declined gradually. We believe that these results reflect real changes in the types of liver disease requiring HR.