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Hepatic Hemangioma Symptoms

Hepatic hemangioma is a noncancerous mass on the liver. Doctors believe that these tumors are congenital, meaning they are present at birth. The mass consists of a group of underdeveloped or malformed blood vessels. Those who have a hepatic hemangioma usually never even know it until it is revealed by a test or procedure performed for an unrelated condition. Although symptoms are usually not present, there are cases when the hemangioma can grow, causing symptoms and requiring treatment.

  1. Abdominal Symptoms

    • If the mass on the liver begins to grow, it can cause a variety of abdominal symptoms. These symptoms include pain in the upper right side of the abdomen, lack of appetite, premature feeling of fullness, nausea and vomiting. These symptoms are somewhat non-specific and can indicate any number of conditions.

    Complications

    • Women who become pregnant and have hepatic hemangioma may experience complications. The increased level of estrogen that occurs during pregnancy can cause the hemangioma to grow, thereby causing symptoms and may require treatment. Having hepatic hemangioma does not mean you should not become pregnant, but you should discuss the condition with your doctor prior to becoming pregnant.

    Diagnosis

    • A patient who is exhibiting the symptoms mentioned above should consult a doctor. Since the symptoms can be caused by various conditions, diagnostic testing should be performed to determine the underlying cause. There are several tests, including ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) scan, or single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) that can produce an image of the abdominal region and reveal the hepatic hemangioma.

    Treatment

    • If you are not experiencing any symptoms, you do not need to seek treatment for your hepatic hemangioma. Although it may seem disturbing to know that you have a mass on your liver, the mass is usually harmless and there is no link between a hepatic hemangioma and liver cancer.

      If you are having symptoms, however, the hemangioma has probably grown large enough to interfere with adjacent organs. The course of treatment is dependent on where and how large the hemangioma is but may include radiation therapy to damage the cells of the hemangioma. In addition, surgery may be necessary to remove the hemangioma or block the blood flow to the hemangioma. In the case of a very large hemangioma or multiple hemangiomas, a liver transplant may be necessary.

    In Infants

    • Although rare, hepatic hemangiomas may become symptomatic in infants. These abdominal masses can cause a variety of symptoms, including chronic acid reflux. If the mass is too large, it can cause cardiac failure. In these cases, the blood flow to the hemangioma must be blocked by inserting a material into the blood vessel, or the tumor must be removed.

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