Hepatocellular Adenoma | Can Hepatic Adenomas Become Cancerous?

Treatment

Hepatocellular adenoma is treated based on its risk of malignancy and rupture. Imaging using MRI is the main determinant of whether there is a need for surgery. In patients whose adenoma or adenomas are small (less than 5cm), follow-up is the rule and surgery is unnecessary. Follow-up is done using MRI imaging 6 months after the diagnosis date, and if the tumor remains stable in size and does not enlarge, there is no need for surgical treatment.

If someone has a tumor whose size is more than 5cm or which is suspicious of being malignant, surgery becomes necessary. Surgical removal of the tumor is done and afterwards, it is examined by a pathologist who will confirm whether it is benign. If the tumor is large enough, a lobe of the liver may be removed. There is no need to worry, however, as the liver can regenerate this lost lobe. Most female patients who had their adenomas removed or who have adenomas are instructed to seek other contraceptive methods than OCPs. Women who intend to become pregnant can choose to remove a large adenoma without follow-up if they fear it would get larger during their pregnancy.