SOLITARY NECROTIC NODULES OF THE LIVER

An experience is reported with solitary necrotic nodules of the liver, rare benign lesions described for the first time in 1983. Two patient s were referred to our department because of the presence of hepatic l esions that radiology showed to be suspected secondary liver tumors. A t laparotomy, both patients underwent liver resections because the les ions appeared to be malignant. Subsequent histological examination of the surgical specimens revealed that both were solitary necrotic nodul es of the liver. These were the only solitary necrotic nodules found i n a total of 840 operations carried out in our department since Octobe r 1981. Although they are completely benign, solitary necrotic nodules have a similar ultrasound pattern and radiological features to metast ases and have been described in the literature during the follow-up of patients with other tumors. Uncertainty remains as to the etiology of these lesions, which still represent an occasional finding in liver s urgery.