Focal nodular liver hyperplasia (VNF) most often occurs in women who drink contraceptives too often, as well as in men who take large amounts of anabolic steroids and testosterone. In this case, the age of the patient does not play any role.
What kind of disease?
VNG is a benign tumor. It can occur in any person. Symptoms may resemble some other malignant neoplasms, so the diagnosis will be difficult. As a rule, liver FNG does not require treatment, but you need to periodically see a doctor. Sometimes the tumor grew into a malignant one. Because of this, complications can occur. One of the known consequences should be called hyperplasia of the liver. The disease is rare, occurs in 3% of cases. At the moment, the exact reasons for the development of the problem have not been established, however, some patterns have been identified, which are discussed below.
Disease classification
The disease is divided into focal, diffuse. The first is associated with tumor overgrowth only in some areas of the liver. The diffuse problem is accompanied by damage to the entire organ. There are also polyps that most often occur with uneven liver damage. As a rule, with such a problem, there is a high probability of the conversion of hyperplasia into a malignant tumor. When examining T2, weakly hyperintensive liver FNG is considered focal nodular.
Causes
A similar problem often arises due to chemotherapy for cancer. At risk are those people who have abdominal injuries. With arteriovenous shunting, there is a chance of developing liver FNG. Among the reasons, it is necessary to note the presence of problems with the vessels. If hyperplasia occurs in the left lobe, then its symptoms are more like a malignant tumor. However, unlike the latter, VNG can be cured with medication.
- The main factors in the occurrence of the disease include problems with blood vessels. Nodular pathology is formed for unknown reasons, but it is believed that problem formations appear around those vessels that do not perform their functions properly. Most often, patients with VNF show additional vessels, as well as malformations. Abnormal blood paths, as a rule, either supply too much oxygen to the body, or few useful substances.
- Genetic problems, as well as hereditary transmission, are a common cause of VNF. At the same time, organ tissue often suffers.
- Malignant formation in the liver, which has already been eliminated. If the patient had a similar problem in childhood, then the likelihood of VNF is several times increased.
Symptomatology
At the beginning of the development of the problem, no symptoms are detected. The first signs appear already with progression.
With VNF of the liver, located in the right lobe, the patient has a lump on his stomach. The skin changes color to pale yellow, there is nausea, pulling pain and an unpleasant sensation in the liver. The patient's appetite disappears, the total body weight decreases sharply, the functionality of the gastrointestinal tract is impaired. The patient constantly feels tired and powerless.
By the nature of the occurrence, this problem is slightly similar to adenoma. They differ in that a more detailed study of nodular hyperplasia reveals scars. Of these, threads stretch.
Diagnostic Methods
The described disease does not occur often, but requires urgent intervention by specialists. In order to identify the nodular type of the disease, a biopsy method is needed. This is due to the fact that in the presence of small nodes the echogram will not be effective. But you need to know that such a method can cause severe bleeding.
Ultrasound, computed and magnetic resonance imaging, laboratory studies, and biochemical blood tests are also used as diagnostic methods.
Description of diagnostic methods
Due to the fact that the symptoms in the initial stages of the problem are almost imperceptible, the results of the procedures are taken into account in the diagnosis.
- Ultrasound is performed along with dopplerography. Thanks to this method, sound waves influence the organ. This allows you to determine all the anomalies associated with the vessels. In addition, you can understand the size of the liver, as well as the localization of the pathology in the abdominal cavity.
- Ultrasound with the introduction of a contrast medium. This method will identify the focus of the star-shaped form.
- CT Thanks to tomography, focal hyperplasia can be detected. Due to the fact that the method is highly accurate, it is possible to identify the location of the tumor and the degree of damage to the organ with minimal error.
- MRI With liver FNG, this type of tomography is used to determine all the characteristics of the tumor. Thanks to this method, it is possible to identify the features of hyperplasia. In addition, due to MRI, it is possible to distinguish between VNF and adenoma and other similar liver problems.
- Ultrasonography. This procedure is needed in order to distinguish another neoplasm from hyperplasia. Sometimes the nodal type of VNF resembles other, more severe pathologies requiring urgent treatment.
- The study of the radionuclide type. This method is carried out by introducing active isotopes into the liver tissue. Due to radiation, an image is formed.
- A blood test is needed in order to know the content of bilirubin and alanine aminotransferase in the body. Also in the laboratory are looking for tumor markers to exclude the malignant nature of the pathology.
- A biopsy is performed in rare cases. It is necessary in order to distinguish VNF from vascular abnormalities and malignant tumors. It is carried out using a tissue fence.
Treatment methods
If there were no particular complications in the diagnosis of liver FNG, and the patient has no symptoms, then treatment is not necessary. This is due to the fact that the formation is benign. If the symptoms increase, the doctor may prescribe special medications. Often, therapy is associated with the suppression of all manifestations. If hormonal drugs became the cause of the described problem, then you need to cancel their intake.
Periodically, the patient should undergo examinations, do ultrasound and MRI. This will allow time to notice an increase in the size of the tumor. If there are appropriate indicators, the doctor will prescribe an operation. Sometimes enucleation is performed. It is prescribed in case of poor blood circulation, which is provoked by problems with the withdrawal of bile. Also, due to this, the nutrition of tissues is disturbed and pathologies of internal organs arise. Reviews of liver surgery for VNG are good. Many patients notice that it is easy to recover after it, the symptoms disappear completely.
The operation can be prescribed in cases where the tumor does not grow, but there is a chance that it will begin to progress. The patient should follow a diet during therapy, do not drink alcohol, monitor protein intake. You need to limit yourself to fried, sweet, spicy, smoked and so on. The organ regenerates quickly, so with proper treatment of VNF, the liver will recover in a short time, even with a loss of more than half.
Herbal medicine and preventive measures
You need to understand that with the occurrence of VNF, the prognosis is favorable. This is due to the fact that the liver is quickly regenerated. There is little risk of consequences.
During treatment, it is necessary to follow the diet prescribed for liver fever. Apples, nuts, vegetables, turmeric and other foods should be added to the diet. Be sure to drink plenty of water and green tea. Thanks to this, all harmful substances are eliminated from the body, which reduces the risk of organ inflammation. The patient should regularly conduct examinations, monitor his condition and lead a healthy lifestyle.
Herbal medicine is considered an effective treatment method. Sometimes traditional medicine is used. It is not necessary to use medications in parallel. Popular plants are calendula, chamomile, St. John's wort, milk thistle and others. Celandine is often used as a powder or tincture.
Home treatment
How liver FNG is detected is already described above. What home treatment methods can be used for the fastest result?
You can drink lemon juice diluted with warm water. In a glass, you need to pour the first ingredient in the amount of 0.5 liters. Allowed to add honey. Pumpkin helps a lot, well affecting the liver. It can be consumed boiled, or drink juice. The daily norm is 0.5 kg. You can use wild strawberries. The norm is the same - 0.5 cups of juice. You can drink only in the summer, when the berry is fresh. If it is not possible to drink strawberry juice, then you can use cranberries. It also has a good effect on the body. You can use frozen berries, make juice or fruit juice from it.
A popular recipe is an infusion of knotweed and rose hips. You need to take a spoonful of wild rose, boil one glass of water. The berry should settle for about an hour. It is advisable to drain the infusion into a thermos. Before you leave it to insist, pour knotweed powder. At first it is advisable to drink a small amount of infusion. By day 10, its daily amount should correspond to 150 ml. On this course should be completed.
The diet with the described disease must be followed. Its goal is to reduce the burden on the liver.
Diet
If the liver enlarged during pregnancy, VNF is the first diagnosis that a doctor may suggest. If during the diagnosis the problem is confirmed, then you must definitely follow a diet.
It is allowed to eat fresh vegetables, fruits, berries. Foods that contain fish, nuts, and flax oil are great. Doctors recommend eating apples, carrots, and cereals more. Dishes in which there is a lot of cellulose and fiber will be useful for VNF. Bread, cereals, dairy products with a minimum fat content are excellent. You need to eat the food that has an elevated level of vitamins C and E. The meat must be nonfat.
If we are talking about a problem in pregnant women, then you need to use foods that contain a lot of sterols. Thanks to this, sex hormones will not be produced in excess. An example of such products should be called seeds, garlic, peas, pumpkin.
In order to prevent the problem from developing into a malignant formation, you should eat more legumes. Special substances in their composition help fight cancer cells.
Fluids and Prohibited Foods
Drinking regimen is very important. Reviews with liver FNG about him are positive, many say that it was the correct use of fluids that helped to cope with some concomitant problems. At least 2 liters of water should be consumed per day. Moreover, you need to drink the liquid in small portions for 5-6 approaches.
It is forbidden to drink coffee, drink alcohol, eat fatty meat, sauces, mayonnaise, sausages, margarine, fatty dairy products, confectionery, fast food and so on. All of them negatively affect the work of even a healthy liver.
Summary
Even if the doctors give a favorable prognosis, you still need to carefully monitor your health, follow all the instructions of specialists. Only in this way can pathological changes in the organ be avoided. If therapy and diagnosis are timely, then after some time the tumor will completely cease to bother the patient. Sometimes prescribed for VNF liver surgery. Reviews about her are excellent. The rehabilitation process is simple and quick. You can recover after the procedure in the shortest possible time.