Sonic hedgehog-activated hepatocellular adenoma

Last revised by Rohit Sharma on 29 Mar 2024

Sonic hedgehog-activated hepatocellular adenomas (sh-HCA) are a subtype of hepatocellular adenomas.

On imaging, it is still mostly diagnosed by exclusion of the other adenomas subtypes and other liver tumors.

Most of sh-HCA were previously grouped under the unclassified adenomas, but they have been shown to represent 4-10% of all adenomas 2-4.

Although usually aysmptomatic, acute abdominal pain from intratumoral hemorrhage is the most common presentation when symptomatic 2.

This subtype is characterized by sonic hedgehog pathway activation, which is related to tissue regeneration, via focal deletions that fuse the promoter of INHBE with GLI1 2-4.

Macroscopically, sh-HCAs may show intralesional fluid-filled cavities or necrotic-hemorrhagic changes 2.

MRI remains the modality of choice when working up hepatocellular adenomas. Unfortunately, there are no specific imaging features for sh-HCA, with diagnosis mostly suggested on exclusion.

Fluid-filled cavities within the tumor have been pointed as a particular feature of sh-HCA compared to the other subtypes 2. These do not enhance, with the fluid representing products of hemoglobin degradation.

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