Cavernous liver hemangioma


A cavernous liver hemangioma or hepatic hemangioma is a benign tumor of the liver composed of hepatic endothelial cells. It is the most common benign liver tumour, and is usually asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally on radiological imaging. Liver hemangiomas are thought to be congenital in origin. Several subtypes exist, including the giant hepatic haemangioma, which can cause significant complications.

Diagnosis

Liver hemangiomas are typically hyperechoic on ultrasound though may occasionally be hypoechoic; ultrasound is not diagnostic. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging or single-photon emission computed tomography using autologous labelled Red Blood Cells with Tc-99m is diagnostic. Biopsy is avoided due to the risk of haemorrhage.
Hepatic hemangiomas can occur as part of a clinical syndrome, for example Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome, Osler–Weber–Rendu syndrome and Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome.

Types

This large, atypical hemangioma of the liver may present with abdominal pain or fullness due to hemorrhage, thrombosis or mass effect. It may also lead to left ventricular volume overload and heart failure due to the increase in cardiac output which it causes. Further complications are Kasabach-Merritt syndrome, a form of consumptive coagulopathy due to thrombocytopaenia, and rupture.

Imaging follow-up

A United States practice is to perform liver ultrasound at 6 months and 12 months after the initial diagnosis, and if the size has not increased, further follow-up is not necessary. Particular situations that may indicate imaging are: