Introduction: focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) is a benign tumour of the liver, often discovered incidentally. It occurs mainly in women between 25-44 years old. Though it is rarefy reported in children the evidence has been growing in the recent years.
The aim: of our work was to show our experience of focal nodular hyperplasia in pediatric cases.
Material and methods: 10 children, aged 6-17 years, were hospitalized in the Children's Memorial Health Institute between 2000 and 2005, with provisional diagnosis of focal nodular hyperplasia. In all children radiological examination was performed. In some cases laparotomy and operative liver biopsy was carried out.
Results: only in 3 children diagnosis of FNH was made from radiological examination. 6 children needed laparotomy and operative liver biopsy. Although operative resection of FNH lesions was carried out in some patients, the authors observed recurrence of hepatic lesions.
Conclusions: our experiences confirm that nowadays the conservative approach should to be standard procedure in children with FNH. Only in doubtful cases laparotomy is recommended.