Case Reports in Gastroenterology (Jul 2009)

A Pitfall in the Diagnosis of Unresectable Liver Metastases: Multiple Bile Duct Hamartomas (von Meyenburg Complexes)

  • David Fuks,
  • Jean-Philippe Le Mouel,
  • Denis Chatelain,
  • Charles Sabbagh,
  • Fabien Demuynck,
  • Marie Brevet,
  • Olivier Brehant,
  • Eric Nguyen-Khac,
  • Thierry Yzet,
  • Frederic Dumont,
  • Pierre Verhaeghe,
  • Jean-Marc Regimbeau

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1159/000220819
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3, no. 2
pp. 198 – 201

Abstract

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Von Meyenburg complexes (VMC) are a cluster of benign liver malformations including biliary cystic lesions, with congenital fibrocollagenous stroma. This rare entity can mimick multiple secondary hepatic lesions. We report a case of a 56-year-old woman who had multiples liver lesions 12 years after operation for breast cancer. Biopsy of the hepatic lesion confirmed the diagnosis of VMC. Preoperative discovery of multiple gray-white nodular lesions scattered on the surface of the liver should not always contraindicate curative liver resection. The diagnosis of VMC should be known and confirmed with liver biopsy.

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