ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE-DEPENDENT GROWTH OF FOCAL NODULAR HYPERPLASIA

A 22 year old woman was incidentally found to have a hepatic small hae mangioma-like mass, measuring 1.4 cm in diameter, by an ultrasonograph ic examination. The mass demonstrated no change in size or appearance for 6 months until the patient began to take oral contraceptives. Even tually, the mass increased to 2.0 cm in diameter after using oral cont raceptives for 6 months. A histological examination suggested the mass to be typical focal nodular hyperplasia, and not hepatic adenoma. The re was no further change in either size or appearance in the ensuing 1 year after the discontinuation of oral contraceptives.