Spontaneous evolution patterns of focal congenital hepatic hemangiomas: a case series of 25 patients

Can Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI Be Used to Differentiate Hepatic Hemangioma from Other Lesions in Early Infancy?

Background  Confident diagnosis of hepatic hemangioma on imaging can avoid biopsy in early infancy and helps guide conservative management. Purpose  This article aims to determine if dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to differentiate liver hemangioma from other lesions in infants ≤ 100 days and to determine association of MRI features with hepatic lesions. Methods  MRI performed for liver lesions were retrospectively reviewed to note imaging characteristics and the MRI diagnosis. Final diagnosis was assigned based on pathology in available cases and by corroborative standard of reference including overall clinical features, lab findings, and follow-up. Results  Of 30 infants (18 boys, 12 girls; average age 42.2 days) included, 18 had solitary and 12 had multifocal lesions. Diagnoses in total 33 lesions included hemangiomas (23), hepatoblastoma (6), arteriovenous malformation (2), neuroblastoma metastases (1), and infarction (1). MRI and final diagnosis matched in 94% lesions with almost perfect agreement (kappa 0.86) for reader 1, and matched in 88% lesions with substantial agreement (kappa 0.71) for reader 2. Interobserver agreement for MRI diagnosis was substantial (kappa 0.62). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of MRI in differentiating hemangioma from other lesions were 100, 90, 96, 100, and 97%, respectively. Centripetal (16/23) or flash (5/23) filling were only seen with hemangioma. There was no significant difference in alpha-fetoprotein elevation ( p 0.08), average size ( p 0.35), multifocality ( p 0.38), and intralesional hemorrhage ( p 1) between hemangioma and hepatoblastoma. Conclusion  Centripetal filling on dynamic imaging and absence of washout are characteristic MRI features of hepatic hemangioma that can help to differentiate it from other lesions in early infancy.

Postnatal treatment and evolution patterns of giant fetal hepatic hemangioma: a case series of 29 patients

OBJECTIVES

To explore the clinical characteristics, postnatal treatment and prognosis of giant fetal hepatic hemangioma (GFHH).

METHOD

Retrospective analysis was performed on children with giant fetal hepatic hemangioma (maximum tumor diameter > 40 mm) diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound and MRI from December 2016 to December 2020. These patients were observed and treated at the Children's Hospital of Fudan University after birth. The clinical data were collected to analyze the clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of GFHH using independent sample t tests or Fisher's exact tests.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine patients who were detected by routine ultrasound in the second and third trimester of pregnancy with giant fetal hepatic hemangiomas were included. The first prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of gestational age was 34.0 ± 4.3 weeks, ranging from 22 to 39 weeks. Of the patients, 28 had focal GFHHs and 1 had multifocal GFHHs. Surgery was performed, and the diagnosis was confirmed histopathologically in two patients. There were 8 cases with echocardiography-based evidence of pulmonary hypertension, 11 cases had a cardiothoracic ratio > 0.6, and 4 cases had hepatic arteriovenous fistula (AVF). The median follow-up time was 37 months (range: 14-70 months). During the follow-up, 12 patients received medical treatment with propranolol as the first-line therapy. The treatment group had a higher ratio of cardiothoracic ratio > 0.6 (P = 0.022) and lower albumin levels (P = 0.018). Four (14.8%) lesions showed postnatal growth before involuting. Complete response was observed in 13 (13/29) patients, and partial response was observed in 16 (16/29) patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Fetal giant hepatic hemangioma is mainly localized, and its clinical outcome conforms to RICH (rapidly involuting) and PICH (partially involuting), but some fetal giant hepatic hemangiomas will continue to grow after birth and then gradually decrease. For uncomplicated giant fetal hepatic hemangioma, postnatal follow-up is the main concern, while those with complications require aggressive medical treatment. Propranolol may have no effect on the volume change of GFHH.

Pediatric hepatic hemangiomas: spectrum and prognostic significance of initial ultrasound findings

BACKGROUND

Hepatic hemangiomas may be associated with serious complications; however, it is unknown whether ultrasound (US) features can predict complications.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze initial US features of hepatic hemangiomas predictive of complications.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a single-center retrospective cohort study of clinical, biological, and imaging data of infants with hepatic hemangioma between 2000 and 2018. Patients were categorized as having or not having any complication(s). Associations between initial US features and complications were analyzed through logistic regression. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to determine optimal cutoff values for continuous variables. Stepwise forward logistic regression was used to construct risk prediction models with training and validation sets. Model calibration and discrimination were evaluated using Hosmer-Lemeshow tests, area under the ROC curve, and overall accuracy.

RESULTS

Of 112 infants with hepatic hemangioma, 67 (60%) had focal, 32 (28%) had multifocal, and 13 (12%) had diffuse lesions, with complication rates of 51%, 34%, and 92%, respectively, mostly cardiac (54/57, 95%). The US characteristics of the hemangiomas were diverse. Risk factors for complications included diffuse subtype; large tumor volume (focal forms); elevated peak systolic hepatic arterial velocity (PSV); and hepatic vein dilation. For focal forms, initial tumor volume  >40 ml and PSV >100 cm/s had >70% sensitivity and specificity, respectively, to predict complications; a model including these variables had 75% overall accuracy in the validation set. For multifocal/diffuse forms, a PSV >115 cm/s had sensitivity and specificity to predict complications of  >70%; a model including this variable had 78% overall accuracy in the validation set.

CONCLUSION

Diffuse subtype, large tumor volume, elevated hepatic arterial PSV, and hepatic vein dilation are risk factors for complications of hepatic hemangiomas.

Mortality predictive factors in congenital hepatic hemangioma: a case-control study

Congenital hepatic hemangiomas (CHHs) are benign vascular tumors whose clinical, histological, and genetic correlation has recently been described in patients with long-term survival, although no mortality risk factors have been identified to date. The aim of this study is to analyze predictors of mortality in patients with CHH. A retrospective single-center case-control study of consecutive CHH patients diagnosed in our institution between 1991 and 2021 was performed, who were classified into two groups according to their survival. Demographic, gestational, imaging, and laboratory data at diagnosis were collected and compared between both groups. A total of 29 patients were included (12 males; 17 females) of whom 5 died as a result of CHH evolution due to cardiac failure and coagulopathy, with a median age of 11 days until death. No differences in demographic or gestational data were reported. There were neither differences when comparing imaging tests, nor in location, number of affected liver segments, or CHH estimated volume. Upon laboratory data at diagnosis, deceased patients had a significant elevation of median liver enzymes [glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (359 u/L vs. 45 u/L; p < 0.01) and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (313 u/L vs. 20 u/L; p < 0. 01)], as well as a decreased median platelet count (85,250/µL vs. 337,000/µL; p < 0.01), prothrombin activity (54% vs. 93%; p < 0.01), and fibrinogen (131 mg/dL vs. 284 mg/dL; p < 0.01), with no differences in blood count or biochemistry data.

CONCLUSIONS

CHH clinical behavior can be innocuous or life-threatening. Thrombocytopenia, coagulation disorders, and increased liver enzymes at diagnosis seem to be the main predictors of mortality.

WHAT IS KNOWN

• Congenital Hepatic Hemangiomas (CHHs) are benign vascular tumors whose clinical behavior can be innocuous or life-threatening.

WHAT IS NEW

• Thrombocytopenia, coagulation disorders and increased liver enzymes at diagnosis seem to be the main predictors of mortality in these patients.

Consumptive Hypothyroidism due to Hepatic Hemangiomas: A Case Series and Review of the Literature

Consumptive hypothyroidism (CH) is a rare and potentially overlooked complication of hepatic hemangiomas (HH) overexpressing the enzyme deiodinase, which converts thyroxine (T4) to reverse triiodothyronine (rT3).

Materials and methods

Here, we report a case series of 3 patients and a systematic review of the literature.

Results

Hypothyroidism (mean serum TSH 52.03 mIU/L) was detected at a mean age of 4.6 months (range 3-6) in 3 infants with infantile hepatic hemangiomas, treated with thyroxine (mean dose 12 µg/kg/day). All received treatment with propranolol (1-3 mg/kg/day) from the mean age of 4 months. Hormonal treatment was stopped at a mean age of 20 months (range 12-30). Hypothyroidism reoccurred in a patient concurrently with the increase of liver lesions, requiring liver transplantation (LT) at age 39 months.Literature review retrieved 42 studies (48 patients): HH (n = 43) were isolated in 24 infants and associated with cutaneous hemangiomas in 19. Hemangiomas were only cutaneous in 5.In the first 43 patients, hypothyroidism was detected at a mean age of 1 month; 21 of 43 patients were prescribed propranolol alone (n = 8) or associated with other medicaments (n = 13); 2 of 43 patients underwent LT. Hormonal treatment consisted of T4 in 35 of 43 patients and T3 in 10.CH associated with only cutaneous and extrahepatic visceral hemangiomas (n = 5), detected at a mean age of 7 months (TSH mean levels at diagnosis of 150.3 mIU/L). Three of 5 patients received treatment with propranolol ± other medicaments. All 5 patients were treated with T4.

Conclusions

Periodical thyroid function assessment is necessary in patients with hepatic hemangiomas, particularly when lesions' size and number increase rapidly.