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Multiple Choice

What is the second most common mass of the liver?

Understanding how often different liver masses occur helps guide the differential. Among liver lesions, cavernous hemangioma is the most common benign tumor. The next most frequent lesion is focal nodular hyperplasia, making it the second most common liver mass. Hepatic adenoma is less common and tends to be seen more in women using oral contraceptives; hepatocellular carcinoma, while important, is a malignant tumor whose frequency depends on underlying liver disease rather than ranking as the second most common mass overall. So, focal nodular hyperplasia is the best answer because it is typically the second most common mass in the liver.

Understanding how often different liver masses occur helps guide the differential. Among liver lesions, cavernous hemangioma is the most common benign tumor. The next most frequent lesion is focal nodular hyperplasia, making it the second most common liver mass. Hepatic adenoma is less common and tends to be seen more in women using oral contraceptives; hepatocellular carcinoma, while important, is a malignant tumor whose frequency depends on underlying liver disease rather than ranking as the second most common mass overall. So, focal nodular hyperplasia is the best answer because it is typically the second most common mass in the liver.