Outcomes of Primary Tumor Excision do not Differ from Non-Resection Methods in Pediatric Mesenchymal Hamartoma of the Liver: A Rapid Systematic Review

Background: To conduct a rapid systematic review comparing the outcomes of primary tumor resection versus non-resection on patients with hepatic mesenchymal hamartoma.

Methods: We searched the Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases from January 1, 2000 to March 31, 2022. Studies that described cases of hepatic mesenchymal hamartoma, including management and outcomes, were included.

Results: 62 articles met inclusion criteria with 95 cases in total. Patients were assigned to the primary tumor resection (n = 85) or non-resection (n = 10) cohort based on the described management. Similar rates of morbidity (17% vs 20%) and mortality (6 vs 10%) were identified between cohorts. There were no differences in sex, liver lobe involvement, or tumor size among study groups.

Conclusions: Complete tumor resection should remain the gold standard for hepatic mesenchymal hamartomas when an adequate liver remnant exists. Reports of non-resected tumors demonstrating spontaneous regression or stability with watchful waiting have poor long term follow-up and have inadequate evidence of a true mesenchymal hamartoma diagnosis.

Level of evidence: Level I.