Large focal nodular hyperplasia is unresponsive to arterial embolization: A case report

BACKGROUND: Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) commonly occurs in women; it is usually asymptomatic and sometimes difficult to differentiate from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). CASE SUMMARY: A large space-occupying lesion in the right lobe of the liver was incidentally detected in an adult man and diagnosed as HCC. Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization was applied once monthly for 2 years, but the lesion did not decrease in size. It was revealed by biopsy to be FNH. Eleven years later, the patient underwent liver resection due to hemorrhage and the pathological examination confirmed FNH. CONCLUSION: For a space-occupying lesion, it is prerequisite to pathologically confirm the diagnosis and the corresponding intervention can be effective.