Nodular regenerative Hyperplasia of the liver
Kalekou-Greka H.
Department of Pathology "Ag. Pavlos" A' Hospital Thessaloniki-Greece
A case of nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH) of the liver
in a 41 year old man presenting with symptoms of rheumatic disease
and mild hepatic dysfunction, is described. NRH is characterized
by diffuse presence of parenchymal nodules, compression atrophy
of the parenchyma between the nodules and Iack of fibrosis. Although
the aetiology remains obscure, this hepatic lesion has been reported
in association with a variety of benign and malignant diseases
both in adults and in children. Open surgical biopsy is reecommended
in the literature rather than needle biopsy of the liver which
may cause diagnostic difficulties due to its small size. The importance
of the diagnosis lies in the elucidation of the underlying hepatic
pathology in cases of liver dysfunction with or without portal
hypertension. Cases associated with drug intake, such as anabolic
steroid treatment, may benefit from discontinuation of the treatment.
Key words: Nodular, hyperplasia, liver.
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