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What is a hepatic hemangioma?
Hepatic hemangiomas are thought to be present in as many as 7% of
healthy people. Hemangiomas are four to six times more common in
women than in men. Female hormones may promote the formation and growth of hemangiomas. Hemangiomas, although referred to as tumors,
are not malignant and do not become cancerous. Hemangiomas are not
unique to the liver and can occur almost anywhere in the body.
What are the symptoms of a hepatic hemangioma?
Hemangiomas usually are small, measuring only a quarter inch in diameter, but they can be several inches in diameter or even larger. The vast majority of hemangiomas of the liver never cause
symptoms or health problems. Most hepatic hemangiomas are discovered
incidentally at the time of testing for unrelated medical problems,
most commonly with ultrasound imaging or CT (computerized tomography)
scanning of the abdomen. Very large hemangiomas can cause symptoms, especially
if they are
positioned near other organs. Pain, nausea, or
enlargement of the
liver can occur. Rarely, larger hemangiomas can rupture, causing
severe pain and bleeding into the abdomen that may be severe or even
life threatening.
How is the diagnosis of a hepatic hemangioma made?
When a hemangioma is suspected, the challenge for
the health care professional, is to be sure that it is in fact a hemangioma and not
another type of tumor, particularly a malignant one. With specialized
tests,
however, doctors can reassure patients that the tumor is with little
doubt a hemangioma. Such special testing may include scintigraphy
(using a tiny amount of a
radioactive substance to identify the hemangioma), CT scanning, or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). In general, a biopsy of
suspected hemangiomas is avoided because of their benign nature and
the potential
risk of bleeding from the biopsy.
What is the treatment for hepatic hemangioma?
The vast majority of hepatic
hemangiomas require no treatment. If a hepatic hemangioma is
large, especially if it is causing symptoms, surgical removal is an
option.