A liver hemangioma is a noncancerous (benign) mass in the liver. A liver hemangioma is made up of a tangle of blood vessels.
Most cases of liver hemangiomas are discovered during an imaging study done for another condition. People who have liver hemangioma rarely have signs and symptoms and usually do not need treatment.
It can be worrisome to know that you have a mass in your liver, even if it is a benign mass. However, there is no evidence that an untreated liver hemangioma can lead to liver cancer.
Liver hemangioma – Symptoms
It usually does not cause signs or symptoms.
When it causes signs and symptoms, they may include:
- Pain in the upper right abdomen
- Feeling full after eating only a small amount of food (early satiety)
- Nausea
- Vomiting
However, these symptoms are nonspecific and in most cases are due to something else, even if a hemangioma is present, as they tend to be asymptomatic.
Liver hemangioma – Causes
It is not clear what causes a liver hemangioma to form. It is believed that liver hemangiomas are present at birth (congenital).
A hemangioma usually appears as a single abnormal collection of blood vessels less than 1.5 inches (about 4 centimeters) wide. Occasionally, liver hemangiomas can be larger or occur in multiples. Large hemangiomas can occur in young children, but this is rare.
In most people, a liver hemangioma will never develop and will never cause signs and symptoms. However, in a small number of people, a hemangioma will grow to cause symptoms and require treatment. It is not clear why this happens.
Risk factors
Factors that can increase your risk of being diagnosed with a hemangioma include:
- Age. A liver hemangioma can be diagnosed at any age, but it is most often diagnosed in people between the ages of 30 and 50.
- Gender. Women are more likely to be diagnosed with a hemangioma than men.
- Pregnancy. Women who have been pregnant are more likely to be diagnosed with hemangioma than women who have never been pregnant. It is believed that the hormone estrogen, which increases during pregnancy, may play a role in the development of liver hemangiomas.
- Hormone replacement therapy. Women who use hormone replacement therapy for menopausal symptoms may be more likely to be diagnosed with liver hemangiomas than women who do not.
Complications
Women who have been diagnosed with liver hemangiomas are at risk of complications if they become pregnant. The female hormone estrogen, which increases during pregnancy, is thought to cause some liver hemangiomas to grow.
Very rarely, a growing hemangioma may cause signs and symptoms that may require treatment, including pain in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen, abdominal bloating, or nausea. Having a liver hemangioma doesn’t mean you can’t get pregnant. However, discussing the potential complications with your doctor can help you make a more informed choice.
Medications that affect hormone levels in your body, such as birth control pills, could cause the tumor to enlarge and cause complications if you’ve been diagnosed with hemangioma. But this is controversial.
Liver hemangioma – Diagnosis
Tests used to diagnose liver hemangiomas include:
Ultrasound, an imaging method that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of the liver
Computed tomography (CT) scan, which combines a series of X-ray images taken from different angles around your body and uses computer processing to create cross-sectional images (slices) of the liver
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), is a technique that uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images of the liver
Scintigraphy, a type of nuclear imaging that uses a radioactive tracer material to produce images of the liver
Other tests may be used depending on the situation.
Liver hemangioma – Treatment
You will not need treatment if the hemangioma is small and not causing signs or symptoms. In most cases, a liver hemangioma will never grow and will never cause problems.
Treatment of liver hemangioma depends on the location and size, whether you have more than one hemangioma, your overall health
