Regenerative nodular hyperplasia: variable clinical presentation

BACKGROUND: Regenerative nodular hyperplasia can take on very misleading as pects making diagnosis difficult. CASE REPORTS: We report three cases of regenerative nodular hyperplasia (RN H). In the first patient rupture of esophageal varices was associated with myelofibrosis. In the second, extensive portal thrombus formation was assoc iated with consumption coagulopathy and essential thrombocytemia. The third patient had systemic sclerodermia, hepatic macronodules, refractory exsuda tive ascitis and chronic hepatic encephalopathy following surgery for a por to-cava anastomosis. DISCUSSION: The diagnosis of RNH should be suspected in a variety of clinic al situations with search for associated diseases in all cases. The prognos is is related to the consequences of port al hypertension and the severity of the associated diseases.