No evidence of substantial growth progression or complications of large focal nodular hyperplasia during pregnancy.

Abstract Objective. Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) is a benign liver tumor considered to develop under the influence of estrogens. Whether women with known FNH are at higher risk of growth progression and complications during pregnancy is still controversially discussed. The authors investigated the growth pattern of FNH during pregnancy and possible related complications. Materials and methods. Twenty pregnant women with FNH were followed by the authors' center. Before pregnancy, diagnosis of FNH was usually established by contrast-enhanced ultrasound. During pregnancy, monitoring of FNH was performed by conventional ultrasound. Furthermore, a questionnaire was sent to all patients. Results. Patient's age ranged from 24 to 36 years. Mean size of FNH before pregnancy was 58.5 ± 22.7 mm. It did not vary significantly during pregnancy (fourth month of pregnancy: 58.1 ± 23.0 mm; after pregnancy: 55.5 ± 26.8 mm; –8%; n.s.). Only in three patients, growth of FNH by 18 ± 6% was observed, while FNH size remaine...