European Journal of Pediatrics

, Volume 167, Issue 5, pp 591–593 | Cite as

Hepatic hematoma in a neonate with a high level of alpha-fetoprotein

  • Simonetta Costa
  • Maria Pia De Carolis
  • Immacolata Savarese
  • Serafina Lacerenza
  • Costantino Romagnoli
Short Report

Abstract

Hepatic hematomas in neonates are uncommon lesions. When they are large or subcapsular in location, they can rupture with clinical signs of hemoperitoneum. We report a case of subcapsular hepatic hematoma (SHH) associated with a high level of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), for which diagnosis was made with conservative management, following up with the reduction in size at ultrasound examination and the reduction of the level of AFP.

Keywords

Alpha-fetoprotein Hepatic hematoma Pulmonary hypertension 

Abbreviations

AFP

alpha-fetoprotein

SHH

subcapsular hepatic hematoma

US

ultrasound

References

  1. 1.
    Bergstrand CG (1986) Alphafetoprotein in paediatrics. Acta Paediatr Scand 75:1–9PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  2. 2.
    Lam CYF, Chan KF, Fan TW, Kwok CHP, Chan CHS, Tsan TK (2005) Intrahepatic hematoma: hepatic lesion in a newborn with high alpha-fetoprotein level. Pediatr Radiol 35:1139–1141PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  3. 3.
    Maze A, Lieber MA, Aballi AJ (1979) Neonatal subcapsular hematoma of the liver presenting as an abdominal mass. Report of two cases. Clin Ped (Phila) 18:311–312Google Scholar
  4. 4.
    Potter EL (1940) Fetal and neonatal deaths. A statistical analysis of 2000 autopsies. JAMA 115:996–1001Google Scholar
  5. 5.
    Singer DB, Neave C, Oyer CE, Pinar H (1999) Hepatic subcapsular hematomas in fetuses and neonatal infants. Pediat Dev Pathol 2:215–220CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  6. 6.
    Watanabe A, Shiota T, Hayashi S, Nagashima H (1984) Serum alpha-fetoprotein in fulminant hepatitis and hepatic regeneration following partial hepatectomy. Bochem Med 32:132–137CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 2007

Authors and Affiliations

  • Simonetta Costa
    • 1
  • Maria Pia De Carolis
    • 1
  • Immacolata Savarese
    • 1
  • Serafina Lacerenza
    • 1
  • Costantino Romagnoli
    • 1
  1. 1.Division of Neonatology, Department of PaediatricsUniversity Hospital “Agostino Gemelli”—Catholic University Sacred HeartRomeItaly

Personalised recommendations