Benign Liver Lesions

Abstract

Benign liver lesions include a wide variety of solid or cystic entities that are usually found in the absence of any underlying chronic liver disease (Table 2.1). Solid lesions are classified by pathologists based on the cell of origin into epithelial or mesenchymal formations. Furthermore, some lesions correspond to regenerative lesions, while others are truly neoplastic. Epithelial lesions include hepatocellular (focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) and hepatocellular adenomas (HCAs)) and cholangiocellular tumors (bile duct adenoma and biliary hamartoma). Mesenchymal tumors include hemangiomas, angiomyolipomas, or lipomas. Cystic lesions are frequent and include simple hepatic cysts, biliary hamartoma, also known as Von Meyenburg complex, and biliary cystadenoma.