[Two cases of benign liver tumour in women on oral contraceptives (author's transl)]

Abstract

Two benign liver tumours are described in women who had taken oral contraceptives. These were cases of focal nodular hyperplasia and a liver cell adenoma. These lesions are benign, and were discovered on routine examination as they were not responsible for any clinical sign, as is usual except in cases of peritoneal rupture, where the patient presents with a dramatic hemoperitoneum. Oral contraceptive were found to be associated as in many recent cases. Oestro-progestins were found to be responsible for an increase in hepatic metabolism, which gave rise to biochemical, histological and sometimes clinical changes in the form of jaundice or a tumour. There is no proof of this mechanism but the supervision of women on contraceptives should include a search for a hepatic tumour for which surgical treatment is necessary to prevent complications.

PIP: 2 benign liver tumors, 1 nodular hyperplasia, and 1 liver cell adenoma, were observed in 2 young patients who had been on OC (Oral contraception). The lesions had not caused any clinical sign, and were discovered during routine examinations. The recent literature has published many instances of liver neoplasms associated to the use of OC. Estroprogestational agents are thought to be responsible for changes in hepatic metabolism causing clinical, histological, or biochemical changes. Their mechanism of action is not completely known, and their responsibility in causing such side effects cannot yet be proven. It is therefore imperative to keep women on OC under surveillance, and to routinely check for the development of hepatic tumors.