liver

Hepatocellular (hepatic) adenoma

A hepatocellular (hepatic) adenoma is a rare, benign (noncancerous) liver tumour. These tumours are typically asymptomatic but can sometimes lead to complications, such as internal bleeding or even a risk of turning cancerous, especially if the adenoma is large. What are the symptoms of a hepatocellular adenoma? Although most hepatocellular adenomas do not cause symptoms, …
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Focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver

What is focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver? Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) is a noncancerous type of growth in the liver. It is much more common in young women and it rarely occurs in men or children. What causes focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver? At the present time, we do not completely understand what …
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Hepatocytes

A hepatocyte is a type of cell found in the liver. They are very active and versatile cells that help to keep the body healthy and balanced. Hepatocytes can also regenerate when they are damaged or lost. The functions of a hepatocyte include: Making proteins needed for blood clotting, transporting substances, and fighting infections. Storing carbohydrates …
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Bile duct adenoma

What is a bile duct adenoma? A bile duct adenoma is a noncancerous type of tumour found in the liver. It is made up of bile ducts, small channels that help move bile and other substances out of the liver. What causes a bile duct adenoma? We do not know what causes a bile duct …
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Bile ducts

What are bile ducts? The bile ducts are a group of tubes that connect the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine. They allow bile and other materials produced by the liver to travel into the intestine, where they help with digestion or are removed from the body as stool. The system of bile ducts is …
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Liver

What is the liver? The liver is an organ found in the right upper part of your abdominal cavity. It is responsible for removing toxins, processing medications, and producing substances such as bile that are essential for breaking down and using food. The liver contains multiple types of cells which make up its structure and …
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Cholestasis

What does cholestasis mean? Cholestasis is a word pathologists use to describe bile trapped in the liver. Trapped bile is important because it can cause liver injury. What causes cholestasis? Cholestasis is commonly seen in a variety of liver diseases such as cirrhosis, autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), and hepatocellular …
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von Meyenburg complex

What is a von Meyenburg complex? A von Meyenburg complex is a type of non-cancerous liver tumour called a hamartoma. For this reason, another name for a von Meyenburg complex is a bile duct hamartoma. Pathologists often describe a von Meyenburg complex as a malformation to differentiate it from other kinds of tumours. von Meyenburg …
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Bile duct hamartoma

What is a bile duct hamartoma? A bile duct hamartoma, also known as a von Meyenburg complex, is a non-cancerous liver tumour made up of disorganized bile ducts.  It is a common type of liver tumour seen in approximately 3-6% of the population. Some may appear before birth during the time in fetal development when …
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Steatohepatitis

What is steatohepatitis? Steatohepatitis is a type of fatty liver disease. It is associated with inflammation and the build up of fat inside specialized liver cells called hepatocytes. What are the types of steatohepatitis? There are two major types of steatohepatitis: non-alcoholic and alcoholic. Alcoholic steatohepatitis occurs due to alcohol use. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis can be …
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