Focal nodular hyperplasia's most recognizable gross feature is a central stellate scar seen in 60–70% of cases.

[4] Rarely, these lesions may be multiple or can occur as part of a syndrome with hemangiomas, epithelioid hemangioendothelioma, hepatic adenomas, fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma, vascular malformations of the brain, meningiomas, and/or astrocytomas.

[4] Focal nodular hyperplasia is not a neoplasm; it is believed to result from localized hyperplastic hepatocyte response to an underlying congenital arteriovenous malformation.

[5] Additionally evidence suggests that the incidence of focal nodular hyperplasia is related to oral contraceptive use.

[8] The prevalence of focal nodular hyperplasia in individuals undergoing evaluation with an ultrasound of the abdomen is 0.03%.