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Focal ultrasound lesions in liver cirrhosis diagnosed as regenerating nodules by fine-needle biopsy

Follow-up of 12 cases

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Abstract

In the period 1985–1988, 62 focal liver lesions in 58 cirrhotic patients were studied by ultrasonography; 12 of these focal lesions were documented to be regenerating lesions by echo-guided fine-needle biopsy. During an average follow-up period of 10.2 months (range 3–22 months), hepatocellular carcinoma was subsequently found in 10 of the cases of regenerating nodules, whereas the initial diagnosis of regenerating nodule was confirmed in the remaining two cases. Based upon this finding, it is suggested that every focal mass visualized by ultrasonography in a cirrhotic liver should either be considered to be a neoplastic lesion or at least a preneoplastic lesion if the possibility of either a metastatic or benign lesion (eg, hemangiomas, focal fatty liver change areas) can be excluded. Therefore either fine-needle aspiration or biopsy of all ultrasonographically revealed mass lesions within a cirrhotic liver is advised, such that early appropriate treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma can be instituted.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto di Clinica Medica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo A. Gemelli, 8, 00168, Roma, Italy

    Gian Ludovico Rapaccini MD,  Maurizio Pompili MD, Eugenio Caturelli MD, Marcello Anti MD, Antonio Aliotta MD, Augusto Cedrone MD, Emanuela Amadei MD, Anna Grattagliano MD, Maria Maddalena Squillante MD, Carla Rabitti MD & Gino Gambassi MD

  2. Divisione di Gastroenterologia, Ospedale Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia

    Gian Ludovico Rapaccini MD,  Maurizio Pompili MD, Eugenio Caturelli MD, Marcello Anti MD, Antonio Aliotta MD, Augusto Cedrone MD, Emanuela Amadei MD, Anna Grattagliano MD, Maria Maddalena Squillante MD, Carla Rabitti MD & Gino Gambassi MD

  3. Istituto di Anatomia ed Istologia Patologica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma

    Gian Ludovico Rapaccini MD,  Maurizio Pompili MD, Eugenio Caturelli MD, Marcello Anti MD, Antonio Aliotta MD, Augusto Cedrone MD, Emanuela Amadei MD, Anna Grattagliano MD, Maria Maddalena Squillante MD, Carla Rabitti MD & Gino Gambassi MD

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  1. Gian Ludovico Rapaccini MD
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  2. Maurizio Pompili MD
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Rapaccini, G.L., Pompili, M., Caturelli, E. et al. Focal ultrasound lesions in liver cirrhosis diagnosed as regenerating nodules by fine-needle biopsy. Digest Dis Sci 35, 422–427 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01536913

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01536913

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