Has anyone ever been diagnosed with FNH? If so, what kind of tests were preformed to come to that diagnoses? Also, has anyone ever had it dianosed when it was actually something else?
2007-02-27 12:02:54 · 1 answers · asked by dil7827 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
FNH can be seen at any age and either sex, though most commonly in a female between 20-50 years old. Most of the time it is incidentally found during surgery or in some imaging study, like a CT or Ultrasound. Either that, or it is found at atopsy (completely independent of cause of death). Usually causes no problems at all. Sometimes while pregnant or when on birth control pills, they can grow...and possibly lead to problems from this...
In any event, the "differential diagnosis" includes cancer, cirrhosis, hemangiomas, regnerative nodules, or metastases (cancer originating from somewhere else that travelled to the liver).
This, of course, makes making the right diagnosis important!
Ultrasound all alone CANNOT distinguish FNH from cancer. So if that is all you had, you need more studies!
CT Scan with and without contrast is much more accurate, but depends on how characteristic it appears. But many times, this is all that is nedeed.
If the diagnosis is in question, a couple repeat CT scans later (at 3 months and 6 months, say), can determine if it is stable and benign (i.e. not growing or changing).
A liver biopsy can also aid with diagnosis if things are still unclear...but only surgical resection is definitive.
Hope this helps some!
2007-02-28 07:05:15 · answer #1 · answered by yachadhoo 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋