Multiple hepatic tumors and peliosis hepatis in Fanconi's anemia treated with androgens
P. Shapiro, R. M. Ikeda, B. H. Ruebner, M. H. Connors, C. C. Halsted and C. F. Abildgaard
We report the case of a 13-year-old boy who was known to have Fanconi's
anemia for five years. For treatment of this condition he was given
androgens and corticosteroids. Two months before his death, severe
varicella developed complicated by pneumonia, jaundice, and prolonged
fever; all of which resolved during a five-week hospitalization. Three
weeks later he died of Clostridium septicum sepsis caused by necrotizing
enterocolitis. At autopsy he was found to have multiple hepatocellular
neoplasms. A striking feature of the neoplasms was cholestasis. The liver
also showed peliosis hepatis. The association of the use of certain
androgenic steroids with hepatic neoplasms histologically resembling
hepatocarcinomas, but characterized by lack of metastases and apparent
reversibility, suggests the desirability of a new nomenclature for these
hepatocellular lesions.
