Hemangiomas Hepatic

Question: Hepatic Hemangiomas-Liver problems? I had an ultrasound which showed a cyst on my liver. I am going for a CT scan this week. My doc said that it's possible that it is a hepatic hemangioma which is always benign. In checking on different websites I found that people who have these don't have symptoms and this is usually found during a routine ultrasound. However, I have been experience intense discomfort from under my rib cage to the back and up to my neck area. Has anyone had a hemangioma with discomfort and is surgery always indicated? I know my doc will advise me upon test results; but I am rather anxious. I am a 56 yr.old healthy, non drinking woman taking estrogen replacement.

Answer: In my experience, hepatic hemangiomas are just an incidental finding. But the experts say: Large hepatic hemangiomas do occur, can cause symptoms -- pain, nausea, or enlargement of the liver -- and even rupture (a rare event) causing severe pain and bleeding into the abdomen that can be an emergency. http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.… Hemangiomas may cause bleeding or interfere with organ function, depending on their location. Most cavernous hemangiomas do not show symptoms. In rare cases, a cavernous hemangioma may rupture. (The only symptom may be an enlarged liver.) http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/…

Question: What causes adult liver hemangiomas? What causes adult hepatic hemangioma to rupture?

Answer: Liver hemangioma; Hemangioma of the liver; also named - Cavernous hepatic hemangioma; Infantile hemangioendothelioma; Multinodular hepatic hemangiomatosis. A hemangioma is a benign (non-cancerous) tumour consisting of dilated blood vessels. When a hemangioma occurs in the liver it is called a hepatic hemangioma. A cavernous hepatic hemangioma is the most common non-cancerous tumor of the liver. It is believed to be a congenital defect, and is usually not discovered until medical pictures are taken of the liver for some other reason. Cavernous hemangiomas can occur at anytime, but are most common in the 30s to 50s. Women are affected more often than men, and usually have bigger tumors than men. Babies may develop a type of hepatic hemangioma called benign infantile hemangioendothelioma (also called multinodular hepatic hemangiomatosis). This rare, non-cancerous tumor has been linked to high rates of heart failure and death in infants. Infants are usually diagnosed by the time they are 6 months old. Histologically, the tumour is thin walled. Its vascular spaces are lined by a single layer of endothelial cells that are separated by fibrous septa. Complications depend on the size and location of the tumour. Large tumours can rupture spontaneously or after blunt trauma. I add a link which discusses this condition:- http://www.answers.com/ topic/hepatic-hemangioma Hope this helps Matador 89

Question: what is a hepatic hemangioma?

Answer: 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 physician 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.