Hepatic mesenchymal hamartoma: An uncommon but important paediatric diagnosis

Abstract

Hepatic mesenchymal hamartoma is a rare hepatic tumour seen in the paediatric population. Although this entity has a variable imaging appearance, it has a favourable prognosis if diagnosed and managed correctly. This case presents the ultrasound and computed tomography findings of an 11-month-old patient who presented with a history of progressive abdominal distension and an elevated alfa fetoprotein level on biochemistry. The case describes how a confident perioperative diagnosis could be made on the basis of characteristic imaging features.

Keywords

• hepatic mesenchymal hamartoma
• paediatric population
• cystic liver masses
• hepatic tumours
• paediatric alfa fetoprotein levels
• computed tomography
• ultrasound