Cystic hamartomas and polycystic disease of the liver

Major hepatic resections in infancy and childhood

“…Access and haemorrhage are the problems confronting the surgeon undertaking the removal of hepatic tumours and cysts (Grime, Moore, Nicholson, and Whitehead, 1959). Haemorrhage was the main problem in this series and was responsible for the entire operative mortality.…”

Symptomatic non-parasitic cysts of the liver

“…In the patient with an uncomplicated cyst the pain is usually of a dull aching nature located either in the epigastrium or in the right hypochondrium and aggravated by jolting or jarring of the body. The pain may suddenly change to become acute and severe as a result of intracystic haemorrhage (Grime et al, 1959), rupture of the cyst with peritonitis (Morgenstern, 1959) or, rarely, torsion of a pedunculated cyst (Orr and Thurston, 1927). Two patients in the present series who admitted to a loss of weight before admission were later shown at operation to have neoplastic cysts.…”

“…Most authorities agree that symptomatic or large solitary hepatic cysts should be treated surgically (Warren and Polk, 1958;Grime et al, 1959;Clark et al, 1967). Before deciding on the surgical procedure to be performed the location, extent and precise anatomical relationships of the cyst must be assessed.…”

Liver tumours in infancy and childhood

“…Hamartomas of the liver are important as they are clinically indistinguishable from neoplasms. Both hepatoblastoma and hamartoma present with an abdominal mass or distension, and are most commonly seen in the first 2 yr of life (Maresch, 1903;Benson and Penberthy, 1942;Kay and Talbert, 1950;Symmers and Ward-McQuaid, 1950;Christopherson and Collier, 1953 ;Packhard and Palmer, 1955;Edmonson, 1956;Grime et al, 1959;Stephens and Jenevein, 1965;Ishida et al, 1966;Sutton and Efler, 1968). The combined experience of these authors shows an equal sex incidence, unlike the male preponderance recorded here.…”