Background

Hepatic mesenchymal hamartoma (HMH) is the second most common benign hepatic tumor after hemangioendothelioma and the third most common of all the hepatic tumors in Pediatric population [1]. It has got a male preponderance and 80% of lesions develop within the first 2 years of life [2].

The etiology of HMH is unclear. There are several theories regarding etiogenesis. One theory states that the lesion occurs due to an abnormal development of primitive mesenchyme at the level of the hepatic ductal plate, leading to abnormal bile ducts [3]. An alternate theory considers the lesion as reactive rather than developmental. An abnormal blood supply to an otherwise normal hepatic parenchyma causes ischemic necrosis, leading to reactive cystic changes within that portion of the liver [4]. The third theory postulates HMH to be a proliferative lesion. A local increase in fibroblast growth factor 2(FGF-2) secretion stimulates the growth of the spindle cells to form the mesenchymal hamartoma. The angiogenic potential of FGF-2 leads to an increase in vascularity associated with these lesions [5]. Possible genetic causes have also been proposed. These include translocation/deletion of chromosome 19q13.4, loss of heterozygosity due to multiple monosomies, aneuploidy, and possible alterations of the MALAT1 gene [6].

Routine antenatal ultrasounds have helped in the prenatal diagnosis of HMH. Prenatally detected masses could be cystic or solid and are usually associated with congestive cardiac failure or fetal hydrops. They may present with high-output cardiac failure, pulmonary hypertension and respiratory distress. The mortality rate of prenatally and perinatally detected lesions are 30% and 35% respectively [7]. In older children, HMH presents as progressive abdominal distention or an abdominal mass or both. Occasionally vomiting can occur due to gastrointestinal compression.

We present this case to discuss an extremely rare presentation of a comparatively rare disease and to emphasise the need for a high index of suspicion even if the patient presents with symptoms common for that age.

Case presentation

A 7-day-old male baby born to a 29 years old mother hailing from Kidangoor, a village in Kerala State of India, presented with jaundice and labored breathing since postnatal day 7. The baby was born at full term (37 weeks) by normal vaginal delivery. He had a birth weight of 3.1 kg and normal APGAR Scores. The antenatal period was uneventful. Antenatal ultrasound scans were normal. There were no records of any significant illnesses or drug intake in the mother. The baby was the 3rd child of a non-consanguineous marriage. He has 2 siblings who are normal. Baby was breastfed soon after birth, passed meconium and urine within 4 h. The baby was discharged on postnatal day 4. On postnatal day 7, the baby was noticed to be jaundiced with poor feeding and labored breathing and was brought back to the hospital.

On examination, the baby was hemodynamically stable; heart rate was 150 beats per minute, respiratory rate 52 per minute and oxygen saturation in room air was 95%. Jaundice was present involving palms and soles. Anthropometric measurements were: length 50.5 cm, weight 3.1 kg and head circumference of 34.8 cm. The BIND score was 0.

The abdomen was grossly distended. Palpation revealed a firm mass of 8 × 7 cm in size occupying the entire right side of the abdomen down to the right iliac fossa and crossing the midline. It was dull on percussion and was continuous with the liver dullness.

Blood investigations showed abnormal liver function tests with indirect hyperbilirubinemia. Other blood investigations were normal (Table 1).

Table 1 Complete blood investigations
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X-ray abdomen revealed a soft tissue shadow occupying the entire right side of the abdomen with bowel loops pushed to the right side (Fig. 1A). USG abdomen revealed a large multiseptated cystic lesion involving the right side of the liver (Fig. 1B).

Fig. 1
figure 1

A X-ray of abdomen showing soft tissue shadow in the right side. B USG of abdomen showing the lesion within the liver

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CECT abdomen showed a large cystic lesion 7.6 × 6 × 4.6 cm with hyperdense areas noted in segments 6 and 7 of liver, extending down to the right iliac fossa (Fig. 2). The lesion was seen displacing the right hepatic vein and compressing the IVC. The right branch of common hepatic artery was seen coursing close to the posterior aspect of the lesion. The possibility of the lesion being mesenchymal hamartoma was considered.

Fig. 2
figure 2

CECT Abdomen showing the lesion. A Axial cut. B Coronal cut. C Sagittal cut

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The baby was started on intravenous antibiotics and supportive measures. Jaundice was managed with phototherapy based on the AAP hour specific nomogram. We attempted to aspirate the cyst under USG guidance and decompress the abdomen but we were unsuccessful. Hence, we proceeded with an emergency laparotomy through a right upper transverse incision. It revealed a large multiloculated cystic lesion with hemorrhagic areas filling the entire right side of the abdomen (Fig. 3). The cyst was seen to be arising from the posterosuperior aspect of the liver, pushing the entire liver to the midline and opposite side. There were dense adhesions between the tumor capsule, bowel and abdominal wall. Entire tumor was filled with altered blood. Capsule was very friable. After separating the adhesions, near total excision of the tumor (sparing the area of the vascular pedicle) and marsupialisation were done.

Fig. 3
figure 3

Intraoperative photos. A Tumor before excision. * showing tumor. B Excision ongoing. C After excision

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Postoperatively the child was electively ventilated with other supportive measures and extubated the next day.

Histopathology was indicative of a cystic lesion which showed mesenchymal tissue with myxoid stroma and hepatocytes. No normal bile ducts or portal triads could be seen in the liver tissue. Marked hemorrhage was seen in the cyst cavity and cyst wall. All findings were in favor of mesenchymal hamartoma of liver (Fig. 4).

Fig. 4
figure 4

Histopathology. H&E stain, 4 × 10 X: cyst wall with hemorrhage and hepatocytes (H). “C” is the cyst cavity. A H&E stain, 40 × 10 X: hepatocytes (H) and mesenchymal spindle cells (M) in the cyst wall

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On follow-up, the baby was a healthy 2-year-old boy with a normal LFT and a sonologically normal liver.

Discussion

The occurrence of HMH is a rare event even though it is the second most benign hepatic tumor of childhood [4]. Hamartoma is an overgrowth of tissues, indigenous to the site. Histologically HMH consists of a mixture of cysts, bile ducts, hepatocytes, and mesenchyme [4].

Neonatal hepatic mesenchymal hamartoma (HMH) usually presents as an asymptomatic mass which is detected incidentally on ultrasound. It can also present with symptoms like abdominal distention, pain and respiratory distress. Other features include cardiac failure, anorexia, vomiting, poor weight gain, vascular steal and thrombocytopenia, intralesional bleeding, pulmonary hypertension, tumor rupture, ascites, pedal edema, obstructive jaundice, and smooth, and large non-tender hepatomegaly [8].

The differential diagnosis of HMH could be any abdominal cystic lesion in a newborn like mesenteric cyst, duplication cyst, hepatoblastoma, teratoma, lymphangioma, choledochal cyst, and renal cyst [8]. These could all be differentiated from HMH using imaging studies.

The initial investigation is plain X‐ray abdomen. It may show calcification or soft tissues mass with displacement of bowel [8]. Ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging of HMH may show a multiloculated cystic tumor with varying amounts of solid components. With ultrasound scan, the presence of thin mobile septae and round hyper-echoic parietal nodules within the cyst is highly suggestive of HMH.

Cases of HMH presenting with jaundice are rare but described earlier in the literature. These were predominantly cases of obstructive jaundice as a result of biliary tract compression by the mass. In 1982 Henrik Ehren et al. published a series of 48 cases of benign liver tumors in infancy. The author described a newborn girl who was admitted to the hospital with hepatomegaly and jaundice. The reason for jaundice was found to be a hamartoma partially obstructing the extrahepatic bile ducts [9]. Heller. K et al. in 1992, described another case concerning a 2-year-old female child, who was found to have a hamartoma of the liver located centrally in the hilar region. She presented with severe biliary obstruction which developed rapidly and was surgically treated [10].

Our patient presented as a case of neonatal jaundice (indirect hyperbilirubinemia). This can be explained by the hemorrhage into the tumor causing heme catabolism leading to excess bilirubin production.

Cases of HMH with indirect hyperbilirubinemia are much rarer when compared to direct hyperbilirubinemia. A case of a 3-week-old male newborn with HMH and mild indirect hyperbilirubinemia was described by Moaied A. Hassan in 2020. But the presenting complaint was not jaundice but abdominal distension and respiratory distress [11].

Treatment options include enucleation of small lesions or marsupialisation into the peritoneal cavity in case of large lesions. However, the gold standard of treatment is complete surgical excision with a margin of normal tissue of the liver. This is to avoid local recurrence and long-term malignant transformation [11]. In our case, we did a near total excision with marsupialisation. Complete excision was not feasible as it was in close relation with hepatic vasculature.

Conclusion

Even though hepatic mesenchymal hamartoma is a rare benign hepatic tumor of infancy, it can present as a surgical emergency. Our case presented as unconjugated neonatal jaundice, which is a rarity. Even though complete excision is desirable we had to limit our surgery to near total excision and marsupialisation due to its proximity to vascular structures.