Focal Nodular Hyperplasia

Lisa · Guest

I have recently been diagnosed with FNH. It all began earlier this year when I had a mentration cycle that lasted more than three months. My doctor ordered an upper abdominal ultrasound, and it was discovered. A CT scan confirmed it was FNH. I have two large masses. My doctor has put me on birth control pills to help my body get back to a normal menstration cycle. In the mean time I am waiting to hear back from my doctor (it has been about two months) with an appointment date to see a liver specialist. This week I have decided to go off my birth control pill since I have read that it can make the masses grow more rapidly. One of my concerns is that my period will go back to the way it was. Do the FNH masses cause the problem with my long menstration cycles? It's important for me to know this as I am trying to take a proactive approach to my health and am getting frustrated with waiting for the specialist's appointment. I am a 35 year old woman with two young children (4 and 2).

Thank you.

Lisa

Miia · Gold Member Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Posts: 388

As far as I know, Focal Nodular Hyperplasia is asymptomatic most of the time. It does need to be differentiated from hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatic adenoma (benign tumor). There haven’t been any reports of the FNH turning into cancer. They are actually very common in women of childbearing age.

The use of oral contraceptives and the effects on the tumor are contradictory where certain resources say that hormones could and do influence the growth of the FNH and complications in symptomatic patients while other tests showed that the tumor continued growing after discontinuing the oral contraceptives.

Patients with FNH have normal liver functioning and the tumor doesn’t seem to affect the liver’s work.

Focal nodular hyperplasia was not associated with menstrual and reproductive factors.

Guest · Guest

Focal Nodular Hyperplasia

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