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Hepatic hemangioma
Liver hemangioma; Hemangioma of the liver; Cavernous hepatic hemangioma; Infantile hemangioendothelioma; Multinodular hepatic hemangiomatosis
A hepatic hemangioma is a liver tumor made of widened (dilated) blood vessels. It is not cancerous.
Causes
A hepatic hemangioma is the most common type of liver tumor that is not caused by cancer. It may be a birth defect.
Tumor
A tumor is an abnormal growth of body tissue. Tumors can be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign).
Hepatic hemangiomas can occur at any time. They are most common in people in their 30s to 50s. Women get these tumors more often than men, and the tumors are often bigger.
Babies may develop a type of hepatic hemangioma called benign infantile hemangioendothelioma. This is also called multinodular hepatic hemangiomatosis. This is a rare, noncancerous tumor that has been linked to high rates of heart failure and death in infants. Infants are most often diagnosed by the time they are 6 months old.
Symptoms
Some hemangiomas may cause bleeding or interfere with organ function. Most do not produce symptoms. In rare cases, the hemangioma may rupture.
Exams and Tests
In most cases, hepatic hemangioma is not found until medical pictures are taken of the liver for some other reason. If the hemangioma ruptures, the only sign may be an enlarged liver.
Babies with benign infantile hemangioendothelioma may have:
- A growth in the abdomen
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Anemia
Anemia
Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. Different type...
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Signs of
heart failure
Heart failure
Heart failure is a condition in which the heart is no longer able to pump oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body efficiently. This causes symptom...
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The following tests may be performed:
- Blood tests
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CT scan of the liver
CT scan of the liver
An abdominal CT scan is an imaging method. This test uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the belly area. CT stands for computed tomog...
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Hepatic
angiogram
Angiogram
This angiogram (an X-ray taken after dye has been injected into the blood stream) shows a mass of blood vessels (hemangioma) in the liver.
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MRI
MRI
An abdominal magnetic resonance imaging scan is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves. The waves create pictures of the inside ...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)
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Ultrasound of the abdomen
Ultrasound of the abdomen
Abdominal ultrasound is a type of imaging test. It is used to look at organs in the abdomen, including the liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, and...
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Treatment
Most of these tumors are treated only if there is ongoing pain.
Treatment for infantile hemangioendothelioma depends on the child's growth and development. The following treatments may be needed:
- Inserting a material in a blood vessel of the liver to block it (embolization)
- Tying off (ligation) a liver artery
- Medicines for heart failure
- Surgery to remove the tumor
Outlook (Prognosis)
Surgery can cure a tumor in an infant if it is only in one lobe of the liver. Surgery can be done even if the child has heart failure.
Possible Complications
Pregnancy and estrogen-based medicines can cause these tumors to grow.
References
Stehr W, Guzzetta PC. Nonmalignant tumors of the liver. In: Boyer TD, Manns MP, Sanyal AJ eds. Zakim & Boyer's Hepatology: A Textbook of Liver Disease . 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2012:chap 32.
Trenor CC, Greene AK. Vascular tumors in childhood. In: Cronenwett JL, Johnston W, eds. Rutherford's Vascular Surgery . 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014:chap 70.
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Hemangioma - angiogram - illustration
This angiogram (an X-ray taken after dye has been injected into the blood stream) shows a mass of blood vessels (hemangioma) in the liver.
Hemangioma - angiogram
illustration
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Hemangioma - CT scan - illustration
This upper abdominal CT scan shows a blood vessel tumor (hemangioma) in the liver.
Hemangioma - CT scan
illustration
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Digestive system organs - illustration
The digestive system organs in the abdominal cavity include the liver, gallbladder, stomach, small intestine and large intestine.
Digestive system organs
illustration
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Hemangioma - angiogram - illustration
This angiogram (an X-ray taken after dye has been injected into the blood stream) shows a mass of blood vessels (hemangioma) in the liver.
Hemangioma - angiogram
illustration
-
Hemangioma - CT scan - illustration
This upper abdominal CT scan shows a blood vessel tumor (hemangioma) in the liver.
Hemangioma - CT scan
illustration
-
Digestive system organs - illustration
The digestive system organs in the abdominal cavity include the liver, gallbladder, stomach, small intestine and large intestine.
Digestive system organs
illustration
Review Date: 4/20/2015
Reviewed By: Subodh K. Lal, MD, gastroenterologist with Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia, Austell, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
