Liver hemangioma

Liver Hemangioma

A liver hemangioma is a benign, non-cancerous mass that occurs in the liver. This condition is also known as hepatic hemangioma or cavernous hemangioma. Liver hemangiomas are thought to be congenital, meaning they are present from birth. They are the most common type of benign liver tumor and are often found incidentally during imaging tests for unrelated reasons.

Causes and Risk Factors

The exact cause of liver hemangiomas is not well understood. They are believed to be congenital, arising from a malformation of vascular tissue during embryonic development. There are no known risk factors directly linked to the development of liver hemangiomas, and they occur in people of all ages, although they are most commonly diagnosed in adults between 30 and 50 years of age. There is a slight predilection for females.

Symptoms

Most liver hemangiomas do not cause symptoms and are discovered incidentally during imaging studies for unrelated issues. When symptoms do occur, they may include:

• Pain or discomfort in the upper right abdomen
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Feeling full after eating only a small amount of food

Large hemangiomas can sometimes cause symptoms due to their size or location, affecting nearby organs or structures.

Diagnosis

Liver hemangiomas are most often diagnosed through imaging studies that were performed for other reasons. The most common imaging tests used to identify liver hemangiomas include:

• Ultrasound
• Computed tomography (CT) scan
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

These imaging tests can help distinguish liver hemangiomas from other types of liver lesions.

Treatment

Treatment for liver hemangiomas is not always necessary, especially if the hemangioma is small and asymptomatic. For larger or symptomatic hemangiomas, treatment options may include:

• Surgery to remove the hemangioma
• Procedures to decrease the size of the hemangioma, such as arterial embolization
• Monitoring with regular imaging tests to check for growth or changes in the hemangioma

Prognosis

The prognosis for individuals with liver hemangiomas is generally excellent, as they are benign tumors that do not become cancerous. Even large hemangiomas can often be managed effectively with treatment.

See Also

• Liver
• Benign tumor
• Vascular malformation