Hepatocellular adenomatosis: what should the term stand for!

Abstract

In 1985, adenomatosis, a term coined to mean ten or more nodules, was considered as a specific entity different from hepatocellular adenoma (HCA) whether single or multiple. In the 2000s the term has lost its individuality. The great contribution of the classification was to clearly demonstrate that in all hepatocellular subtypes and in particular etiologies such as glycogenosis and male hormone administration, HCA could be solitary, multiple (<10) or multiple (>10: adenomatosis). Management of hepatocellular adenomatosis may not be different from solitary or multiple HCA. To keep its specificity in terms of management and prognosis compared to solitary or multiple HCA, it is necessary to indicate the number of nodules including the combination of three parameters: size, location and subtypes. When the classical armentarium to treat nodules is not possible or too risky, embolization or liver transplantation remains the only therapeutic options.