From the Research
Definition of Atypical Hepatic Adenoma
- Atypical hepatic adenoma, also referred to as "atypical hepatocellular neoplasm" or "atypical adenoma", is a term used to describe hepatocellular adenoma-like neoplasms that show cytogenetic alterations similar to well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinomas 1.
- These tumors often occur in unusual clinical settings, such as in men or older women, and may exhibit focal atypical morphologic features, making the distinction from well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) challenging 1, 2.
Characteristics of Atypical Hepatic Adenoma
- Atypical hepatic adenomas may have β-catenin activation, which is associated with atypical morphologic features and an increased risk of malignant transformation 1.
- Cytogenetic changes typically observed in HCC are present in atypical hepatocellular neoplasms with β-catenin activation, suggesting that these tumors may represent an extremely well-differentiated variant of HCC 1.
- The clinical, morphologic, immunohistochemical, molecular, and cytogenetic features of atypical hepatocellular neoplasms are distinct from those of typical hepatocellular adenoma and HCC 2.
Diagnosis and Management
- The diagnosis of atypical hepatic adenoma is often made based on a combination of clinical, radiological, and pathological features 3, 4.
- The management of atypical hepatic adenomas is based on a multidisciplinary approach, taking into account factors such as tumor size, subtype, and patient gender 3, 4, 5.
- Surgical resection may be considered in cases where the risk of malignant transformation or bleeding is high, such as in tumors larger than 5 cm or those with β-catenin activation 4, 5.