Recurrent mesenchymal hamartoma associated with 19q translocation. A call for more radical surgical resection

Hepatic mesenchymal hamartoma is a rare benign tumour in children. It is often large and centrally located in the liver at diagnosis, making surgical resection difficult; thus non-radical resection has been proposed in the past as acceptable management. However, a literature survey and a case with recurrence associated with cytogenetic anomalies suggest that radical liver surgery (resection with a margin of normal liver parenchyma, as for malignant tumour) should be recommended for mesenchymal hamartoma.