Monday, June 04, 2012

Hepatic hemangioma

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

Liver hemangioma; Hemangioma of the liver; Cavernous hepatic hemangioma; Infantile hemangioendothelioma; Multinodular hepatic hemangiomatosis


Treatment

Most cavernous hepatic hemangiomas are treated only if there is persistent 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
  • Medications for heart failure
  • Surgery to remove the tumor

Support Groups


Expectations (prognosis)

In infants whose tumor is only in one lobe of the liver, surgery is a cure, even if the child has heart failure.


Complications

Pregnancy and estrogen-based medications can cause cavernous hemangiomas to grow.


Calling your health care provider



Review Date: 04/17/2011
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)