LIVER HEMANGIOMA

What is a liver hemangioma?

A liver hemangioma, also known as a hepatic hemangioma, is a benign (non-cancerous) tumor in the liver that is made up of clusters of blood-filled cavities fed by the hepatic (liver) artery. Usually, a patient has only one hemangioma, but in some cases there may be more than one. Hemangiomas do not develop into cancer and do not spread to other areas of the body.

How common are liver hemangiomas?

Liver hemangioma is the most common benign (non-cancerous) liver tumor, affecting up to 5% of adults in the United States.

Who is affected by liver hemangiomas?

Liver hemangiomas are more common in adults than in children; the typical age at diagnosis is 30-50 years, but they can happen at any age. Liver hemangiomas occur more often in women than in men, but can affect both.

What causes a liver hemangioma?

The causes of liver hemangiomas are not known. Some cases may be genetic (runs in the family).

What are the symptoms of a liver hemangioma?

Most liver hemangiomas do not cause symptoms, and are only discovered when the patient  has an ultrasound/CT scan/MRI of the abdomen.

Small (a few millimeters to 2 centimeters in diameter) and medium (2 to 5 centimeters) hemangiomas usually do not cause symptoms.

Giant liver hemangiomas (more than 10 centimeters) usually develop symptoms and complications that require treatment. Symptoms most often include upper abdominal pain, as the large mass presses against surrounding the liver tissue and capsule. Other symptoms include: Poor appetite, Feeling full quickly when eating a meal, Nausea, Vomiting, Feeling bloated after eating.

How are liver hemangiomas treated?

Large hemangiomas are treated if the patient is symptomatic.  There are no drug treatments for a liver hemangioma. Surgery may be needed to remove the hemangioma if it grows rapidly or causes significant discomfort or pain.

A technique called embolization, in which the blood vessels that feed the hemangioma are obstructed, can slow or reverse its growth.

What are the complications associated with a liver hemangioma?

Complications depend on the size and location of the hemangioma, and include:

Mechanical complications:

Rupture (spontaneous or from physical trauma)

Compression (pushing) against surrounding organs such as the stomach (leading to feelings of fullness soon after beginning a meal); bile ducts (leading to jaundice); or the liver capsule (which causes pain)

Bleeding complications, either inside the tumor, or outside the tumor into the abdominal cavity

Degenerative complications, such as blood clotting inside the hemangioma, or the development of calcifications (calcium deposits in the tumor) or scar tissue

LIVER HEMANGIOMA

What is a liver hemangioma?

A liver hemangioma, also known as a hepatic hemangioma, is a benign (non-cancerous) tumor in the liver that is made up of clusters of blood-filled cavities fed by the hepatic (liver) artery. Usually, a patient has only one hemangioma, but in some cases there may be more than one. Hemangiomas do not develop into cancer and do not spread to other areas of the body.

How common are liver hemangiomas?

Liver hemangioma is the most common benign (non-cancerous) liver tumor, affecting up to 5% of adults in the United States.

Who is affected by liver hemangiomas?

Liver hemangiomas are more common in adults than in children; the typical age at diagnosis is 30-50 years, but they can happen at any age. Liver hemangiomas occur more often in women than in men, but can affect both.

What causes a liver hemangioma?

The causes of liver hemangiomas are not known. Some cases may be genetic (runs in the family).

What are the symptoms of a liver hemangioma?

Most liver hemangiomas do not cause symptoms, and are only discovered when the patient  has an ultrasound/CT scan/MRI of the abdomen.

Small (a few millimeters to 2 centimeters in diameter) and medium (2 to 5 centimeters) hemangiomas usually do not cause symptoms.

Giant liver hemangiomas (more than 10 centimeters) usually develop symptoms and complications that require treatment. Symptoms most often include upper abdominal pain, as the large mass presses against surrounding the liver tissue and capsule. Other symptoms include: Poor appetite, Feeling full quickly when eating a meal, Nausea, Vomiting, Feeling bloated after eating.

How are liver hemangiomas treated?

Large hemangiomas are treated if the patient is symptomatic.  There are no drug treatments for a liver hemangioma. Surgery may be needed to remove the hemangioma if it grows rapidly or causes significant discomfort or pain.

A technique called embolization, in which the blood vessels that feed the hemangioma are obstructed, can slow or reverse its growth.

What are the complications associated with a liver hemangioma?

Complications depend on the size and location of the hemangioma, and include:

Mechanical complications:

Rupture (spontaneous or from physical trauma)

Compression (pushing) against surrounding organs such as the stomach (leading to feelings of fullness soon after beginning a meal); bile ducts (leading to jaundice); or the liver capsule (which causes pain)

Bleeding complications, either inside the tumor, or outside the tumor into the abdominal cavity

Degenerative complications, such as blood clotting inside the hemangioma, or the development of calcifications (calcium deposits in the tumor) or scar tissue

LIVER HEMANGIOMA

What is a liver hemangioma?

A liver hemangioma, also known as a hepatic hemangioma, is a benign (non-cancerous) tumor in the liver that is made up of clusters of blood-filled cavities fed by the hepatic (liver) artery. Usually, a patient has only one hemangioma, but in some cases there may be more than one. Hemangiomas do not develop into cancer and do not spread to other areas of the body.

How common are liver hemangiomas?

Liver hemangioma is the most common benign (non-cancerous) liver tumor, affecting up to 5% of adults in the United States.

Who is affected by liver hemangiomas?

Liver hemangiomas are more common in adults than in children; the typical age at diagnosis is 30-50 years, but they can happen at any age. Liver hemangiomas occur more often in women than in men, but can affect both.

What causes a liver hemangioma?

The causes of liver hemangiomas are not known. Some cases may be genetic (runs in the family).

What are the symptoms of a liver hemangioma?

Most liver hemangiomas do not cause symptoms, and are only discovered when the patient  has an ultrasound/CT scan/MRI of the abdomen.

Small (a few millimeters to 2 centimeters in diameter) and medium (2 to 5 centimeters) hemangiomas usually do not cause symptoms.

Giant liver hemangiomas (more than 10 centimeters) usually develop symptoms and complications that require treatment. Symptoms most often include upper abdominal pain, as the large mass presses against surrounding the liver tissue and capsule. Other symptoms include: Poor appetite, Feeling full quickly when eating a meal, Nausea, Vomiting, Feeling bloated after eating.

How are liver hemangiomas treated?

Large hemangiomas are treated if the patient is symptomatic.  There are no drug treatments for a liver hemangioma. Surgery may be needed to remove the hemangioma if it grows rapidly or causes significant discomfort or pain.

A technique called embolization, in which the blood vessels that feed the hemangioma are obstructed, can slow or reverse its growth.

What are the complications associated with a liver hemangioma?

Complications depend on the size and location of the hemangioma, and include:

Mechanical complications:

Rupture (spontaneous or from physical trauma)

Compression (pushing) against surrounding organs such as the stomach (leading to feelings of fullness soon after beginning a meal); bile ducts (leading to jaundice); or the liver capsule (which causes pain)

Bleeding complications, either inside the tumor, or outside the tumor into the abdominal cavity

Degenerative complications, such as blood clotting inside the hemangioma, or the development of calcifications (calcium deposits in the tumor) or scar tissue