Cavernous hemangiomas of the liver: resect or observe?

A Case Report: Giant Liver Hemangioma Treated with Transcatheter Embolization

When treating patients with a massive cavernous hemangioma of the liver that requires nonsurgical therapy, transcatheter arterial embolization has proven to be an effective technique. Significant advantages include the ability to obliterate the vascular supply of these lesions and the minimally invasive nature compared to surgery. A 65-year-old woman arrived at our hospital complaining primarily of stomach pain that had been there for six months. The patient had a hard lump in the right hypochondrium on clinical examination. Ultrasound showed a large, well-defined, heterogeneous lesion with central necrotic areas, with the rest of the liver parenchyma having normal echotexture and flow in the portal vein. The 65-year-old woman's primary complaint upon arrival at our hospital was a stomach ache that had been there for six months. The results of the liver function test were normal. Upon presumptive identification of a significant hepatic hemangioma, the patient was brought to the angio-suite for angiography and proper hepatic artery embolization. Considering the patient's age, the severity of the lesion, and its highly vascular character, endovascular embolization of the proper hepatic artery using lipidol and bleomycin was performed. The patient was discharged after two days in the hospital, administered antibiotics, and advised to follow up after 15 days. Liver function after embolization was within normal limits. The patient had no symptoms after a follow-up at three months. Therefore, endovascular embolization with lipidol and bleomycin is a safe and effective method to obliterate the vascular supply to the lesion, prevent catastrophic bleeding, and provide symptomatic relief to the patient.

[Radiation therapy of hepatic haemangiomas: Review from a case report]

Haemangioma is the most frequent benign hepatic tumour. Haemangioma is generally asymptomatic but it can sometimes cause disabling symptoms depending on its size and location. Surgery and interventional radiology are the cornerstone of the treatment in this situation. Radiation therapy, already used with good efficacy and safety to treat hepatic malignant lesions as hepatocarcinoma and metastases, is a relevant option in case of contraindication to surgery because of multiple or very large lesions. In this context, we report the case of a patient presenting with multiple symptomatic hepatic haemangiomas, successfully treated by radiation therapy in our department. These good results justified a review of the literature to report series of patients treated in this indication and to describe the main treatment regimens used.

Spontaneous intracapsular hemorrhage of a giant hepatic cavernous hemangioma: a rare case report and literature review

Background

Hepatic cavernous hemangioma is the most common type of benign liver tumor. Although ruptures and hemorrhages of hepatic hemangioma are rare complications, they are associated with high mortality. Most practitioners only pay more attention to abdominal hemorrhages caused by the rupture of hepatic hemangiomas. However, spontaneous intracapsular hemorrhages can often be neglected and poorly understood.

Case presentation

A 65-year-old man was referred to our institution with right upper quadrant pain, which had occurred suddenly and without a history of recent trauma. The blood test results were normal. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdomen showed a cystic mass in the right liver lobe. Considering the possibility of hepatic cystadenoma with hemorrhage, the patient underwent a right hepatic lobectomy. The pathological findings unexpectedly revealed intratumoral hemorrhage of hepatic hemangioma. The patient recovered well and was discharged eight days after surgery.

Conclusions

Intracapsular hemorrhage of hepatic cavernous hemangioma is challenging to diagnose and has a high potential risk of rupture. MRI is beneficial for diagnosing subacute internal hemorrhage cases, and it is recommended to undergo surgery for patients with a definitive diagnosis.

Current concepts in ablative procedures for primary benign liver lesions: a step forward to minimize the invasiveness of treatment when deemed necessary

With increased use of medical imaging, the incidental detection of benign solid liver tumors has become more frequent. Facing with benign disease, the indications for surgery are still object of discussion in light of the stable natural course of most lesions and obvious drawbacks of any surgical intervention; therefore, in most situations, a conservative approach is recommended, and surgery is mainly reserved for those cases with persistent or worsening symptoms, or who are at risk for complications as malignant transformation. The advent of ablative techniques has widened the range of treatment options available to these patients, presenting as a valid alternative to resection in terms of safety and efficacy in selected cases, particularly in patients who are considered poor surgical candidates and with smaller lesions. This review outlines the role of percutaneous ablative methods for benign solid liver tumors that are encountered in adults, providing a per histology analysis of the existing evidence. The up-to-date strategies for management of the most common benign solid tumors are recapitulated.

Hepatic Hemangiomas Alter Morphometry and Impair Hemodynamics of the Abdominal Aorta and Primary Branches From Computer Simulations

Background: The formation of hepatic hemangiomas (HH) is associated with VEGF and IL-7 that alter conduit arteries and small arterioles. To our knowledge, there are no studies to investigate the effects of HH on the hemodynamics in conduit arteries. The aim of the study is to perform morphometric and hemodynamic analysis in abdominal conduit arteries and bifurcations of HH patients and controls.

Methods: Based on morphometry reconstructed from CT images, geometrical models were meshed with prismatic elements for the near wall region and tetrahedral and hexahedral elements for the core region. Simulations were performed for computation of the non-Newtonian blood flow using the Carreau-Yasuda model, based on which multiple hemodynamic parameters were determined.

Results: There was an increase of the lumen size, diameter ratio, and curvature in the abdominal arterial tree of HH patients as compared with controls. This significantly increased the surface area ratio of low time-averaged wall shear stress (i.e., SAR-TAWSS =Surface  areaTAWSS≤4 dynes·cm−2Total  surface  area× 100%) (24.1 ± 7.9 vs. 5 ± 6%, 11.6 ± 12.8 vs. < 0.1%, and 44.5 ± 9.2 vs. 21 ± 24% at hepatic bifurcations, common hepatic arteries, and abdominal aortas, respectively, between HH and control patients).

Conclusions: Morphometric changes caused by HH significantly deteriorated the hemodynamic environment in abdominal conduit arteries and bifurcations, which could be an important risk factor for the incidence and progression of vascular diseases.

New recognition of the natural history and growth pattern of hepatic hemangioma in adults

AIM

Surgical indications for hepatic hemangiomas are still not clearly defined due to limited data on their natural history. This study aimed to investigate the natural history and growth pattern of hepatic hemangiomas in adults.

METHODS

From April 2010 to March 2013, adult patients with hepatic hemangioma who had no prior treatment were enrolled. A routine follow up was performed to observe the natural history of the lesions and their tendency to cause complications.

RESULTS

A total of 236 patients were enrolled in the study. The median size of hemangiomas was 4.5 cm (range, 0.6-19.2). During a median follow-up period of 48 months (range, 3-266), 61.0% patients had hemangiomas that increased in size, 23.7% patients had stable lesions and 8.5% patients had hemangiomas that decreased in size. The peak growth period of hemangiomas was in patients of less than 30 years of age (0.46 ± 0.41 cm/year) and the growth rate decreased significantly after 50 years of age (0.21 ± 0.40 cm/year). Hemangiomas of less than 2 cm had the lowest growth rate (0.16 ± 0.42 cm/year). The peak growth rate of hemangioma size was 8-10 cm (0.80 ± 0.62 cm/year), then decreased rapidly to 0.47 ± 0.91 cm/year while the hemangiomas were of more than 10 cm. Only nine patients had severe symptoms caused by hemangioma. No patients presented with hemangioma-related complications.

CONCLUSION

The majority of hepatic hemangiomas have the tendency to increase in size but rarely cause complications. All the hemangiomas can be safely managed by observation, and surgery is only considered for patients with severe complications.

The risk of spontaneous rupture of liver hemangiomas: a critical review of the literature

BACKGROUND

The risk of spontaneous bleeding or rupture of liver hemangiomas still remains unknown. The aim of this review was to analyze the problem of spontaneous bleeding or rupture in liver hemangiomas and to identify factors leading to bleeding in these cases.

METHODS

A MEDLINE search was undertaken to identify articles in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish from 1898 to 2010. Basic data such as age and sex of patients were collected. Additional data such as risk factors or causes of rupture were also analyzed. Cases were divided into spontaneous and non-spontaneous ruptures.

RESULTS

A total of 97 cases are described. In 51 of the 97 patients (52.6%) a non-spontaneous rupture was identified. Only in 46 out of the 97 cases (47.4%) was a spontaneous rupture found. Non-spontaneous rupture was significantly more frequent in patients aged <40 years than in older ones (p = 0.0099). Mean size of the ruptured lesions was 11.2 cm (range 1-37 cm). Massive bleeding occurred in 88 patients (90.7%). Reported mortality over the past 20 years has been significantly lower than before (p < 0.001). The overall mortality for the period under study was ~35%.

CONCLUSIONS

The spontaneous rupture of a hepatic hemangioma is to be considered an exceptional event. Preventive surgery should be considered only for lesions of at least 11-cm size in special cohorts of patients.

Giant cavernous liver hemangiomas: is it the time to change the size categories?

BACKGROUND

Four different sizes (4, 5, 8 and 10 cm in diameter) can be found in the literature to categorize a liver hemangioma as giant. The present review aims to clarify the appropriateness of the size category "giant" for liver hemangioma.

DATA SOURCES

We reviewed the reports on the categorization of hemangioma published between 1970 and 2014. The number of hemangiomas, size criteria, mean and range of hemangioma sizes, and number of asymptomatic and symptomatic patients were investigated in patients aged over 18 years. Liver hemangiomas were divided into four groups: <5.0 cm, 5.0-9.9 cm, 10.0-14.9 cm and ≥15.0 cm in diameter. Inclusion criteria were noted in 34 articles involving 1972 (43.0%) hemangiomas (>4.0 cm).

RESULTS

The patients were divided into the following groups: 154 patients (30.0%) with hemangiomas less than 5.0 cm in diameter (small), 182 (35.5%) between 5.0 cm and 9.9 cm (large), 75 (14.6%) between 10.0 and 14.9 cm (giant), and 102 (19.9%) more than 15.0 cm (enormous). There were 786 (39.9%) asymptomatic patients and 791 (40.1%) symptomatic patients. Indications for surgery related to symptoms were reported in only 75 (3.8%) patients. Operations including 137 non-anatomical resection (12.9%) and 469 enucleation (44.1%) were unclearly related to size and symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

The term "giant" seems to be justified for liver hemangiomas with a diameter of 10 cm. Hemangiomas categorized as "giant" are not indicated for surgery. Surgery should be performed only when other symptoms are apparent.

Successful adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation using liver allograft after the resection of hemangioma: A suggestive case for a further expansion of living donor pool

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Donor organ scarcity is the major problem in the field of liver transplantation.

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Extended criteria donor for living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is crucial.

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This is the first adult-to-adult LDLT using liver allograft with benign hemangioma.

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Liver allograft with hemangioma is a remarkable strategy to resolve organ shortage.

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This case is so suggestive for a safe expansion of living donor pool in LDLT.

Introduction

Hepatic hemangioma is one of the most common benign liver tumors. There are few published reports regarding liver transplantation using liver allografts with hemangioma.

Presentation of case

A 45-year-old man was evaluated as a living donor for 19-year-old son with cirrhosis due to hepatic fibrosis. Preoperative investigations revealed 20 and 7 mm hemangiomas, at segment 2 (S2) and 4 (S4) respectively. Considering the anatomical relation of S2 hemangioma and Glisson 2, liver graft was designed as left lobe excluded S2 hemangioma by partial resection. Estimated graft recipient weight ratio (GRWR) even after partial resection of hemangioma was reasonable. During the donor operation, a partial hepatic resection of S2 hemangioma was performed. Intraoperative pathologic findings revealed a cavernous hemangioma, and then, the left hepatic graft with the caudate lobe was harvested. Actual GRWR was 0.90%. Donor's postoperative course was uneventful. Recipient’s post-operative course was almost uneventful. Postoperative computed tomography of the recipient showed the graft regeneration without increase or recurrence of hemangioma.

Discussion

Organ shortage is a major concern in the field of liver transplantation. A novel donor source with a further option is extremely crucial for a guarantee of liver transplantation. We experienced the first case of adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation using liver allograft after the resection of hemangioma.

Conclusion

We advocate that the use of liver allograft with hemangiomas in adult-to-adult LDLT settings can be remarkable strategy to reduce the problem of organ shortage without any unfavorable consequences in both living donor and recipient.

Transcatheter Arterial Embolization Alone for Giant Hepatic Hemangioma

Giant hepatic hemangioma is a benign liver condition that may be treated using surgery. We studied the digital subtraction angiographic (DSA) characteristics of giant hepatic hemangioma, and the effectiveness of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) alone for its treatment. This was a retrospective study of 27 patients diagnosed with giant hepatic hemangioma and treated with TAE alone (using lipiodol mixed with pingyangmycin) at the Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, between January 2010 and March 2013. The feeding arteries were identified using DSA. All patients were followed up for between three weeks and 12 months. Changes in tumor diameter and symptoms were observed. The 27 patients included had giant hepatic hemangiomas ranging from 5.3 to 24.5 cm (mean, 11.24±5.08 cm) in the right (n = 13), left (n = 1) or both (n = 13) lobes. Preoperative hepatic angiography showed multiple abnormal vascular lakes in the early phase, known as the “early leaving but late returning, hanging nut on a twig” sign. On the day after TAE, hepatic transaminase levels were increased (ALT: 22.69±17.95 to 94.88±210.32 U/L; ALT: 24.00±12.37 to 99.70±211.54 U/L; both P<0.05), but not total bilirubin. Six patients complained of abdominal pain, and 12 experienced transient fever. In the months after TAE, tumor size decreased (baseline: 11.24±5.08; 3 months: 8.95±4.33; 6 months: 7.60±3.90 cm; P<0.05), and the patients’ condition improved. These results indicated that TAE was effective and safe for treating giant hepatic hemangioma. TAE may be a useful alternative to surgery for the treatment of hepatic hemangioma.

Collagenous nodule mixed simple cyst and hemangioma coexistence in the liver

A 20-year-old female patient presented with two masses located in the left liver. In this patient, a computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a hypodense mass and a second well-defined mass with a calcified nodule in the left hepatic lobe. No enhancements were apparent in or around the masses. A laparotomy was performed due to the patient’s symptoms, namely, the atypical CT findings and a risk of rupture of the subcapsular lesion. The operation revealed two masses in the left hepatic lobe and a left liver resection was subsequently performed. One of the masses involved segment III and the other mass was located in segment IV. The histopathologic findings supported a diagnosis of collagenous nodule mixed simple cyst and hemangioma. A diagnosis of collagenous nodule mixed simple hepatic cyst is extremely rare and radiologically mimics a teratoma, hepatolithiasis, parasitic cyst, or hemangioma. Although hepatic hemangiomas are the most common benign tumors found in the liver, the present case showed atypical radiographic features.

Microwave ablation of giant hepatic cavernous hemangiomas

PURPOSE

This study was designed to explore the safety and efficacy of percutaneous microwave (MW) ablation as an alternative treatment for symptomatic giant hepatic hemangiomas.

METHODS

Patients (n = 7; 6 females, 1 male; mean age = 44 years) with symptomatic, giant hemangiomas (n = 8) were treated with ultrasound-guided percutaneous MW ablation and followed for a mean of 18 months. Patient pain was recorded both before and after the procedure according to the 10-point visual analog scale. All patients were treated using one or three gas-cooled 17-gauge antennas powered by a 2.4-GHz generator (Neuwave Medical, Madison, WI). Mean ablation time was 11.6 min. Four patients received hydrodissection to protect the abdominal wall, colon, or gallbladder (5 % dextrose in water, mean volume 900 mL). Immediate postablation biphasic CT of the abdomen was performed, and four of seven patients have undergone delayed follow-up imaging.

RESULTS

All ablations were technically successful with no major or minor complications. Average pain score decreased from 4.6 to 0.9 (p < 0.05), and six of seven patients report resolution or improvement of symptoms at 18-month average follow-up (range 1-33 months). Immediately postablation, mean tumor diameter decreased 25 % (from 7.3 to 5.5 cm, p < 0.05) and volume decreased 62 % (from 301 to 113 cm(3), p < 0.05).

DISCUSSION

In this series, percutaneous MW ablation was safe, well-tolerated, and effective in markedly shrinking large hepatic hemangiomas and improving symptoms in most patients.

What is changing in indications and treatment of hepatic hemangiomas. A review

Hepatic cavernous hemangioma accounts for 73% of all benign liver tumors with a frequency of 0.4-7.3% at autopsy and is the second most common tumor seen in the liver after metastases. Patients affected by hemangioma usually have their tumor diagnosed by ultrasound abdominal examination for a not well defined pain, but pain persist after treatment of the hemangioma. The causes of pain can be various gastrointestinal pathologies including cholelithiasis and peptic ulcer disease.The malignant trasformation is practically inexistent. Different imaging modalities are used to diagnosis liver hemangioma including ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and less frequently scintigraphy, positronemission tomography combined with CT (PET/CT) and angiography. Imaging-guided biopsy of hemangioma is usually not resorted to except in extremely atypical cases. The right indications for surgery remain rupture, intratumoral bleeding, Kasabach-Merritt syndrome and organ or vessels compression (gastric outlet obstruction, Budd-Chiari syndrome, etc.) represents the valid indication for surgery and at the same time they are all complications of the tumor itself. The size of the tumor do not represent a valid indication for treatment. Liver hemangiomas, when indication exist, have to be treated firstly by surgery (hepatic resection or enucleation, open, laproscopic or robotic), but in the recent years other therapies like liver transplantation, radiofrequency ablation, radiotherapy, trans-arterial embolization, and chemotherapy have been applied.

Impact on liver cancer treatment of a first erroneous diagnosis of hemangioma

BACKGROUND

Most liver hemangioma (HA) diagnoses are presumptive and based on radiological features and growth trend. The goal of this study was to analyze the impact of a false diagnosis of hemangioma upon the overall therapeutic course and upon the prognosis of a liver malignancy.

METHODS

Twenty-eight patients with liver cancer who were observed in the period 2001-2007 after an initial erroneous diagnosis of HA were retrospectively evaluated. We studied their radiological workup after blind revision of the images by two radiologists with specific expertise in liver imaging, analyzing the relationship between overall management and center volume, mean delay from the first test to the curative treatment, and clinical consequences of this diagnostic mistake.

RESULTS

The diagnosis of false HA occurred in a low-volume center (LVC) in 75 % of cases. A specific risk for liver cancer was present in 71.4 % of patients. US gave a false diagnosis of HA in 25/27 patients, a CT scan in 18/25 patients, and MRI in 6/16 patients. The final diagnosis was reached with a mean delay of 22 months. Liver resection was possible in 22 patients; in the 17 hepatocellular carcinoma cases, the survival rate was 69.4 % at 5 years after the first observation.

CONCLUSIONS

A false diagnosis of HA in the presence of malignancy is not rare nowadays and significantly reduces the chances of cure. In situations at risk of having the error occur (poor technical quality of imaging, low specific experience, doubtful diagnosis, and high-cancer-risk patient), the rationale approach is to discuss the case with a multidisciplinary team skilled in the field of liver cancer.

Management of hemangioma of the liver: surgical therapy or observation?

BACKGROUND

Elective surgery for liver hemangioma is controversial. We reviewed long-term outcomes following elective hepatectomy or observation only for symptomatic and asymptomatic liver hemangioma.

METHODS

All patients (n = 307) with liver hemangioma referred to our hospital for surgical evaluation from January 1988 to December 2009 were identified, and imaging results, tumor characteristics, surgical indication, surgical mode, outcome of observation, clinical and/or postoperative outcome, and adverse events were retrospectively evaluated.

RESULTS

Complete median follow-up for 246 patients was 124 months. Elective surgery was performed in 103 patients (symptomatic [n = 62] and asymptomatic [n = 41]). Postoperative morbidity occurred in 17 % of the patients and was significantly lower in asymptomatic patients (p = 0.002). No perioperative mortality was registered. Surgery relieved complaints in most (88 %) patients. In the observation group (n = 143), 56 % of patients had persistent or new onset of hemangioma-associated symptoms. Major hemangioma-related complications occurred in 12 patients (9 %) during the follow-up period, and 2 patients died after traumatic hemangioma rupture. Overall the rate of adverse events was by trend lower in the surgical group than in the observation group (35 versus 57 %; p = 0.08).

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of patients with liver hemangioma can be safely managed by clinical observation. In a subset of patients, especially those with giant hemangioma and/or occurrence of symptoms, surgical treatment could be considered and is justified in high-volume centers.

Minimally invasive treatment of giant haemangiomas of the liver: embolisation with bleomycin

PURPOSE

The management of patients with giant haemangioma of the liver remains controversial. Although the usual treatment method for symptomatic giant haemangioma is surgery, the classical paradigm of operative resection remains. In this study, we evaluated the symptomatic improvement and size-reduction effect of embolisation with bleomycin mixed with lipiodol for the treatment of symptomatic giant hepatic haemangioma.

METHODS

This study included 26 patients [21 female, five male; age 41-65 years (mean 49.83 ± 1.53)] with symptomatic giant haemangioma unfit for surgery and treated with selective embolisation by bleomycin mixed with lipiodol. The patients were followed-up (mean 7.4 ± 0.81 months) clinically and using imaging methods. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 16.0, and p < 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance.

RESULTS

Embolisation of 32 lesions in 26 patients was performed. The mean volume of the haemangiomas was 446.28 ± 88 cm(3) (range 3.39-1559 cm(3)) before intervention and 244.43 ± 54.38 cm(3) (range 94-967 cm(3)) after intervention. No mortality or morbidity related to the treatment was identified. Symptomatic improvement was observed in all patients, and significant volume reduction was achieved (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The morbidity of surgical treatment in patients with giant liver hemangioma were similar to those obtained in patients followed-up without treatment. Therefore, follow-up without treatment is preferred in most patients. Thus, minimally invasive embolisation is an alternative and effective treatment for giant symptomatic haemangioma of the liver.

Symptomatic-enlarging hepatic hemangiomas are effectively treated by percutaneous ultrasonography-guided radiofrequency ablation

BACKGROUND & AIMS

We aimed to evaluate the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of percutaneous ultrasonography-guided radiofrequency ablation for the management of symptomatic-enlarging hepatic hemangiomas.

METHODS

Twenty-four patients (5 male and 19 female, with mean age of 49.5±2.2) with 25 hemangiomas over 4 cm underwent percutaneous RFA due to either the presence of symptoms or the enlargement of hemangioma compared with previous imaging studies.

RESULTS

The mean diameter of hemangioma was 7.2±0.7 cm (4.0-15.0 cm) with 16 hemangiomas in right and 9 hemangiomas in left lobe. Twenty-three hemangiomas (92.0%) were successfully treated by radiofrequency ablation. The mean diameter of hemangiomas was decreased to 4.5±2.4 cm (p<0.001) in serial follow-up CT scans over mean period of 23±3.8 months (23-114 months). Symptoms related to hemangioma disappeared without enlargement of hemangiomas in all successfully treated patients. There were 14 adverse events in 10 patients including abdominal pain, indirect hyperbilirubinemia (>3.0 mg/dl), fever (38.3°C), anemia (<10 g/dl), and ascites, which were successfully managed by conservative treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Percutaneous ultrasonography-guided radiofrequency ablation is an effective, minimally invasive, and safe procedure for the management of symptomatic-enlarging hepatic hemangioma.

A case of a ruptured sclerosing liver hemangioma

Hemangiomas are the most common benign tumors found in the liver, typically asymptomatic, solitary, and incidentally discovered. Although vascular in nature, they rarely bleed. We report a case of a 52-year-old woman with a previously stable hemangioma who presented to our hospital with signs and symptoms indicative of spontaneous rupture. We review the literature, focusing on diagnosis and management of liver hemangiomas.

Conservative and operative management of benign solid hepatic tumours: a successful stratified algorithm

BACKGROUND

The progress of modern imaging studies has improved the diagnostic approach of benign liver tumours, leading to a tailored approach with increased conservative management.

METHODS

One hundred and thirty-two patients suffering from benign hepatic tumours were enrolled in this study, including an operative (group I, 49 patients) and a conservative (group II, 83 patients) management. Patients' tumour and treatment features were analyzed.

RESULTS

The mean patients' age was 39 years. Indication for resection based on diagnosis of tumour nature (hepatic cell adenoma or uncertain diagnosis) and significant tumour-related abdominal pain was 15% out of 33 patients with hepatic haemangioma, 21.7% out of 60 patients with focal nodular hyperplasia and 78.4% out of 37 patients with hepatocellular adenoma. Mortality was nihil in group I. Complications and transfusion rates were related to the performance of major hepatectomy, when required for huge tumours. With a 95.5% of complete patients' follow-up during a mean of 92 months in group I and 87 months in group II, no misdiagnosis or evolution towards malignancy was encountered. Interestingly, 87.9% of all observed benign liver tumours remained stable, decreased in size or disappeared. None of the remaining lesions required surgery.

CONCLUSION

A restrictive policy of surgical management of benign liver tumours based on clinical symptoms, tumour size and nature on imaging studies (including dubious lesions) and tumour biopsies in selected cases is safe and reliable with a low-operative mortality in resected patients and satisfactory disease-control in the vast majority of observed benign liver tumours.

Management of giant hemangioma of the liver: resection versus observation

BACKGROUND

Management of patients with giant hemangiomas of the liver encounters persistent controversy. Although recent case series suggest a low complication rate with nonoperative management, the classic paradigm of preventive operative resection remains.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study was conducted of 492 patients with giant hepatic hemangioma (>4 cm in size) diagnosed between 1985 and 2005 at Mayo Clinic Rochester. Long-term outcomes were assessed by patient survey, with a follow-up of 11 ± 6.4 years.

RESULTS

Of 492 patients, 289 responded to the survey. In the nonoperative group (n = 233), 20% had persistent or new onset of hemangioma-associated symptoms, including potentially life-threatening complications in 2%. In the operative group (n = 56), perioperative complications occurred in 14%, including potentially life-threatening complications in 7%. None of the operative patients had persistent or new onset of hemangioma-associated symptoms after resection of the dominant hemangioma. In group comparison, the rate of adverse events was similar (20% versus 14%; p = 0.45) with an overall low risk for potentially life-threatening complications (2% versus 7%; p = 0.07). Size of hemangiomas was not associated with adverse events in either group. Subjective health status and quality of life at follow-up were similar in both groups (p > 0.54).

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical observation of patients with giant hemangioma of the liver has a similar rate of complications compared with operative management, but might prevent the need for invasive interventions in some patients. Clinical observation is preferred in most patients and operative treatment should be reserved for patients with severe symptoms or disease-associated complications.

Reappraisal of surgical indications and approach for liver hemangioma: single-center experience on 74 patients

BACKGROUND

Liver hemangiomas are rarely large, symptomatic, or presenting atypical imaging patterns. Surgery is rarely needed; indications and choice of the best technique remain not precisely defined.

METHODS

Features of hemangiomas and surgical indications were assessed in 74 patients (mean follow-up 63.2 months). In 40 operated patients, the results of liver resection versus enucleation were compared.

RESULTS

Most hemangiomas (60/74, 81.1%) showed no size increment. In 40 operated patients (40/74, 54.1%) the mean tumor size (11.9 cm, range 2.6-46.0) was larger than in nonoperated patients (11.9 vs 6.0 cm, P = .0002). Surgical indications were specific symptoms, tumor enlargement, Kasabach-Merritt syndrome, and uncertain diagnosis. Mortality (nil), morbidity (10.0%), and transfusion rate (15.0%) were similar for 28 liver resections versus 12 enucleations; bleeding was more related to large hemangioma size than to the choice of either technique. Liver ischemia techniques, autotransfusion, and intraoperative blood salvage reduced the risk of transfusion.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgery is rarely indicated, has a low risk, and has similar results for liver resection versus enucleation. Risk of bleeding is related more to the large size of the hemangioma than to the type of surgery (resection or enucleation). In these patients, management, the need for surgery, and the choice of technique should be carefully individualized.

Gadoxetate disodium-enhanced MRI of the liver: part 1, protocol optimization and lesion appearance in the noncirrhotic liver

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this article is to review the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of gadoxetate disodium (Gd-EOB-DTPA), to describe a workflow-optimized pulse sequence protocol, and to illustrate the imaging appearance of focal lesions in the noncirrhotic liver.

CONCLUSION

Gd-EOB-DTPA allows a comprehensive evaluation of the liver with the acquisition of both dynamic and hepatocyte phase images. This provides potential additional information, especially for the detection and characterization of small liver lesions. However, protocol optimization is necessary for improved image quality and workflow.

Adult Kasabach-Merritt Syndrome due to Hepatic Giant Hemangioma

Cavernous hemangiomas are the most common benign tumors of the liver. They can reach enormous sizes and cause various complications. Kasabach-Merritt syndrome is a rare but serious complication characterized by consumptive coagulopathy caused by the hemangioma; mortality rate ranges between 10 and 37%. More than 80% of cases occur within the first year of life. Goals of the treatment are to control the coagulopathyand thrombocytopenia as well as to eradicate the hemangioma. Different nonsurgical treatment regimens are performed, includingsystemic corticosteroids, irradiation and various chemicals. Surgery should be limited to symptomatic or complicated cases. Although difficult, resection of the tumor is usually curative. Here we present a 44-year-old woman with giant hepatic hemangioma causing Kasabach-Merritt syndrome managed by enucleation.

Discrete hypoechoic ring in hepatic cavernous hemangioma resembling a malignant tumor: correlation with histologic features

Differential diagnoses of hepatic nodules include hepatocellular carcinoma, focal nodular hyperplasia, hepatic adenoma, regenerative nodule, focal fatty changes, and hemangioma. However, differentiation of these nodules can often be difficult. Hemangiomas are frequently encountered during ultrasonogram incidentally and can be diagnosed easily because they have an almost distinctive sonographic appearance: a homogeneous hyperechogenicity and discrete posterior acoustic enhancement. They also sometimes have atypical findings, for example an internal echogenicity including hypoechogenicity, heterogeneous echogenicity, hyperechoic rim, central hypoechogenicity due to various changes (e.g., internal hemorrhage, necrosis, thrombosis, myxomatous change, and fibrosis), and (rarely) calcification. We report herein the case of an atypical hemangioma presenting with a hypoechoic peripheral ring, mimicking a hepatic malignancy. To our knowledge, there have been no other reports demonstrating a cavernous hemangioma with a discrete hypoechoic ring and without a pseudocapsule.

Approach to Solid Liver Masses in the Cirrhotic Patient

Liver masses in cirrhosis are increasingly being recognized with the use of new imaging modalities. The majority of these lesions are detected by ultrasound, enhanced CT and MRI. The most likely diagnosis of a solid liver lesion in a cirrhotic liver is hepatocellular carcinoma, followed by high grade or low grade dysplastic nodule, and cholangiocarcinoma. Lymphoma and liver metastasis are extremely rare. Diagnosis is made by contrast enhanced ultrasound, multi detector (MDCT) and MRI. Fine needle core biopsy (FNCB) or aspiration (FNAB) or both may be required in doubtful cases. If uncertainty persists on the nature of the lesion, surgical liver resection is recommended. This review discusses the main characteristics of the most common solid liver masses in cirrhotic patient.

Characteristics of common solid liver lesions and recommendations for diagnostic workup

Due to the widespread clinical use of imaging modalities such as ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), previously unsuspected liver masses are increasingly being found in asymptomatic patients. This review discusses the various characteristics of the most common solid liver lesions and recommends a practical approach for diagnostic workup. Likely diagnoses include hepatocellular carcinoma (the most likely; a solid liver lesion in a cirrhotic liver) and hemangioma (generally presenting as a mass in a non-cirrhotic liver). Focal nodular hyperplasia and hepatic adenoma should be ruled out in young women. In 70% of cases, MRI with gadolinium differentiates between these lesions. Fine needle core biopsy or aspiration, or both, might be required in doubtful cases. If uncertainty persists as to the nature of the lesion, surgical resection is recommended. If the patient is known to have a primary malignancy and the lesion was found at tumor staging or follow up, histology is required only when the nature of the liver lesion is doubtful.

Incidental Findings During Routine Antepartum Obstetrical Sonography

The standard for performing an antepartum obstetrical sonogram primarily involves the examination of the fetus; however, both the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) and American College of Radiology (ACR) guidelines suggest the evaluation of maternal structures as well. The authors present 35 incidental findings that were discovered on routine antepartum obstetrical sonography. These include abdominal wall, gastrointestinal, reproductive, urinary, and vascular anomalies in the maternal structures. A review of the literature demonstrates that many of these findings have clinical significance, which highlights the wisdom of the AIUM and ACR guidelines, and it also stresses the importance of seeking and reporting them.

Indicações e resultados da ressecção cirúrgica do hemangioma hepático: indications and results

OBJETIVO: Apresentar os resultados do tratamento cirúrgico em pacientes portadores de hemangioma hepático. MÉTODO: Foram estudados 20 pacientes portadores de hemangioma hepático cavernoso, operados entre fevereiro de 1991 e fevereiro de 2005. A idade dos pacientes variou de 16 a 72 anos (média de 42 anos) com predomínio do sexo feminino (80%), sendo que 85% deles eram sintomáticos. Todos os pacientes foram submetidos à ultrassonografia abdominal (US) e à tomografia computadorizada contrastada (TC). Utilizou-se incisão abdominal subcostal bilateral associada à incisão mediana. RESULTADOS: Durante o período de seguimento clínico não se constataram recidiva de sintomas ou de hemangioma. A morbidade pós-operatória representada por infecção da ferida cirúrgica foi observada em um (5%) paciente, insuficiência hepática leve em 40% e moderada em 15% que apresentaram evolução clínica satisfatória com o tratamento clínico instituido; em um (5%) verificou-se a ocorrência de bilioma que necessitou drenagem por punção abdominal. A maioria dos pacientes retornou as atividades habituais até o 3º. mês de pós-operatório. Não ocorreram óbitos nesta série de pacientes. CONCLUSÃO: A ressecção cirúrgica do hemangioma hepático, gigante ou sintomático, é opção de tratamento segura e eficaz, sendo que a extensão da ressecção varia de acordo com a localização e tamanho.

Hemangiomas hepáticos: aspectos ultra-sonográficos e clínicos

Os hemangiomas são os tumores hepáticos benignos mais comuns, ocorrem em todos os grupos etários, sendo mais comuns nos adultos. Na grande maioria dos casos os hemangiomas são pequenos, assintomáticos e descobertos incidentalmente. Lesões maiores eventualmente podem produzir sintomas. O aspecto ultra-sonográfico desses tumores varia, sendo que o aspecto usual é o de lesão pequena hiperecogênica bem definida. Neste artigo, os autores fazem uma revisão sobre aspectos clínicos e ultra-sonográficos dos hemangiomas, ressaltando a importância desses aspectos na condução clínica dos pacientes acometidos.

A review of liver masses in pregnancy and a proposed algorithm for their diagnosis and management

BACKGROUND

Liver masses in pregnancy are rare; some behave aggressively while others remain indolent. The paucity of case series has hindered the development of a defined approach to their diagnosis and management. This paper presents an algorithm for the diagnosis and management of hepatic hemangiomas, focal nodular hyperplasia, liver cell adenomas and hepatocellular carcinoma associated with pregnancy based on our own experience and literature review.

DATA SOURCES

A Medline search from 1966 to present was performed. Seven additional illustrative cases from our institution are included. Twenty pregnancies with hepatic hemangiomas, 37 with focal nodular hyperplasias, 26 with liver cell adenomas and 33 with hepatocellular carcinomas were identified.

CONCLUSIONS

Gestational hepatic hemangiomas and focal nodular hyperplasia behave indolently and can be observed. Liver cell adenomas often require surgery, but small, asymptomatic lesions may be carefully observed. Meticulous observation postpartum is mandatory. As pregnancy impacts survival in hepatocellular carcinoma, resection maybe indicated.

Laparoscopic management of benign liver diseases: where are we?

The role of laparoscopic surgery in the management of benign cystic and solid liver tumours appears to differ according to each tumour type. As regards congenital liver cysts, laparoscopic treatment is now the gold standard for treating selected, huge, accessible, highly symptomatic or complicated cysts. In contrast, the laparoscopic approach is not useful for patients suffering from adult polycystic liver disease (PLD), except for type I PLD with large multiple hepatic cysts. For benign hepatocellular tumours, the surgical management has recently benefited from a better knowledge of the natural history of each type of tumour and from the improvement of imaging techniques in assuring a precise diagnosis of tumour nature. Thus the general tendency has led to a progressive restriction and tailoring of indications for resection in benign liver tumours, selecting only patients with huge, specifically symptomatic or compressive benign tumours or patients suffering from liver cell adenoma. Despite the enthusiastic use of the laparoscopic approach, selective indications for resection of benign liver tumours should indeed remain unchanged. For all types of benign liver tumours, the best indication remains small, superficial lesions, located in the anterior or the lateral segments of the liver. Deep, centrally located lesions or tumours in contact with major vascular or biliary trunks are not ideal candidates for laparoscopic liver resections. When performed by expert liver and laparoscopic surgeons using an adequate surgical technique, the laparoscopic approach is safe for performing minor liver resections and is accompanied by the usual postoperative benefits of laparoscopic surgery. When applied in selected patients and tumours, laparoscopic management of benign liver diseases appears to be a promising technique for hepatobiliary surgeons.

Hemangiomas hipoecogênicos

Os hemangiomas hepáticos representam tumores hepáticos benignos, que, se corretamente identificados, não necessitariam de remoção cirúrgica na grande maioria dos casos. Usualmente apresentam-se, à ultra-sonografia (US), como lesões hiperecogênicas, entretanto, lesões com aspectos menos usuais, como as hipoecogênicas, também são descritas. Os autores avaliaram, prospectivamente, 15 casos de hemangiomas hipoecogênicos identificados num período de cerca de quatro anos. Como estes hemangiomas são atípicos em suas aparências ultra-sonográficas, o diagnóstico definitivo foi estabelecido pela análise, em conjunto, dos dados dos exames de US e tomografia computadorizada (TC) helicoidal. À TC helicoidal, todas as lesões apresentaram o aspecto característico de realce centrípeto pelo meio de contraste iodado endovenoso. Adicionalmente, em todos os pacientes foram realizadas dosagens de antígeno carcinoembrionário e alfa-fetoproteína, além de endoscopia digestiva alta e colonoscopia (ou enema opaco com duplo contraste), não tendo sido identificada qualquer alteração nestes exames. Ademais, todos os pacientes foram avaliados com US e TC-helicoidal de controle, oito meses a um ano após o exame inicial, sem qualquer alteração no aspecto e nas dimensões das lesões. De interesse foi notado que, dos 15 casos de hemangiomas hipoecogênicos, 14 foram identificados em fígados esteatóticos. Os autores concluem que, embora atípico ao ultra-som, os hemangiomas podem se apresentar hipoecogênicos. Isto ocorreria especialmente em fígados com esteatose, sendo que apenas ocasionalmente seriam identificados em fígados sem esteatose. Nestes casos atípicos à US, seria útil a realização de exames complementares de imagem e bioquímicos, além de exames de controle, para maior conforto no seu diagnóstico preciso.

Benign Neoplasms of the Liver

Tumors of the liver often are discovered incidentally in asymptomatic individuals during diagnostic imaging or exploratory laparotomy performed for alternative reasons. Hemangiomas are the most common benign liver tumors, followed in prevalence by focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH); other benign tumors are rare. The growth and development of hemangiomas, FNH, and hepatic adenomas especially, have been linked to hormonal (eg, estrogen) stimulation. Differentiating between benign and malignant neoplasms of the liver can be challenging. Radiologic imaging is essential for preliminary identification and classification of hepatic tumors, but tissue biopsy or surgical excision sometimes is required for a definitive diagnosis. Individuals with hemangioma or FNH usually are asymptomatic, have a benign course, and can be managed conservatively. In contrast, hepatic adenomas need to be followed more carefully and often are excised to provide symptomatic relief, remove the risk of rupture, and avoid potential malignant transformation. Liver transplantation in patients with benign hepatic neoplasms is exceedingly uncommon, and is recommended only when alternative methods of treatment are not feasible or have failed to control significant symptoms.

Benign and Solid Tumors of the Liver: Relationship to Sex, Age, Size of Tumors, and Outcome

From 1983 through 1997, our center diagnosed 130 cases of benign neoplasms: 27 with focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH), 25 with hepatic adenoma, 71 with cavernous hemangioma, and seven with mixed tumors of different diagnoses. Most often these lesions were seen in females [female-to-male ratio (f/m): 5.5/1]. Hepatic adenomas and mixed tumors were seen exclusively in females and FNH predominantly in females (f/m: 26/1). Hemangiomas, however, were not uncommon in men (f/m: 52/19) relative to the other tumors ( P < 0.001). Furthermore patients with hemangioma were older (mean age: 49 years) whereas patients with hepatic adenoma, FNH, and mixed tumors were often younger (mean age: 33, 35, and 44 years respectively; P < 0.004). Oral contraceptive steroid use was related by 21 of 25 patients (84%) with hepatic adenoma, 22 of 26 (85%) females with FNH, five of seven (71%) females with mixed tumors, and 10 of 52 (19%) patients with hemangioma. Ninety-five of the 130 patients (73%) had one or more symptoms. There was no statistically significant correlation between symptoms and the size of the lesion, the final diagnosis, and whether there were solitary or multiple masses. Three of 25 (12%) with hepatic adenoma presented with rupture, and one of 27 (4%) with FNH had such a consequence. None of the hemangiomas presented with rupture or progressed to such a state. One patient with hepatic adenoma (4%) had a focus of malignancy. Surgical removal of benign tumors was performed in 82 of 130 patients (63%), and there was one operative mortality (1.2%) in a patient who had a caudate lobe FNH. The types of surgical procedures included segmentectomy (62%), lobectomy (34%), and trisegmentectomy (4%). In two of 84 patients who had undergone laparotomy resection was not technically possible. Resection is recommended in all cases of hepatic adenoma because of fear of rupture or associated focus of malignancy. FNH was not observed to undergo a malignant transformation and will rarely rupture. Surgery is only recommended for symptomatic hemangioma, and size of the lesion is not a criterion for excision.

Hepatic resection for benign tumours of the liver

The most frequent benign tumours of the liver include haemangioma, liver cell adenoma and focal nodular hyperplasia. Patients may undergo hepatic resection because of a preoperative diagnosis of malignancy or uncertainty in diagnosis despite an extensive work-up.

Inflammatory process complicating giant hemangioma of the liver: report of three cases

Three cases of giant hemangioma of the liver associated with clinical and laboratory signs of inflammatory process, including low-grade fever, weight loss, abdominal pain, accelerated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, anemia, thrombocytosis, and increased fibrinogen level with normal white blood cell count are described. One patient presented with slight cholestatic jaundice because of tumor-related bile duct compression, but the other two patients had normal liver function tests, except for a slight increase in gammaglutamyl transferase. Clinical and laboratory abnormalities disappeared after surgical excision. Inflammatory manifestations have rarely been reported during giant liver hemangioma. Intratumoral inflammation necrosis or bleeding could explain the symptoms but histological signs of inflammation were not detected in two of three surgical specimens. The release of immune mediators by liver endothelial cells lining the hemangioma is an alternative explanation. The incidence of inflammatory process complicating giant hemangioma is probably underestimated because our three cases were observed within a span of only 3 years.

Surgical treatment of giant haemangioma of the liver

BACKGROUND

The treatment of giant symptomatic haemangioma of the liver is still controversial. This retrospective study reviewed the results of surgical treatment.

METHODS

Twenty-eight patients with symptomatic giant haemangioma of the liver were treated by liver resection (n = 24) or liver transplantation (n = 4). The median diameter of the haemangiomas was 11 (range 5-20) cm.

RESULTS

Complications occurred in five of the 24 patients treated by partial liver resection, although all survived and remain alive and well more than 2 years after surgery. In six patients there was residual haemangioma in the liver remnant which did not enlarge during the 2-year follow-up. In four patients the haemangioma was considered irresectable and liver transplantation was performed. One died after a 'two-stage' liver transplantation; the remaining three patients are alive and well, 1, 4 and 9 years after transplantation.

CONCLUSION

Liver resection is the treatment of choice for giant haemangioma of the liver where possible. In selected cases liver transplantation is indicated.

Transcatheter arterial embolization of two symptomatic giant cavernous hemangiomas of the liver

Cavernous hemangiomas are usually asymptomatic; however, a small percentage may cause symptoms. This case report discusses palliation by transcatheter arterial embolization with polyvinyl alcohol particles.

Management and follow-up of 78 giant haemangiomas of the liver

The natural history and appropriate treatment of giant liver haemangioma remain poorly defined. The diagnostic strategy and the results of a longitudinal study of 78 such lesions are described. Sixteen resected patients and 62 with asymptomatic giant haemangiomas were entered into a follow-up programme consisting of clinical assessment and abdominal ultrasonography every 6 months. Resection was considered only for symptomatic patients (14 cases) and rapidly growing lesions (two cases). The mean follow-up was 36 months for the resected patients and 55 months for the observed group. Surgery permanently relieved symptoms. No recurrence of haemangioma was observed. Some 32 of 36 unresected lesions followed up remained stable in size. Minor changes were observed in four of 36. None ruptured or became symptomatic. It is concluded that asymptomatic large haemangiomas can be managed safely by observation. However, the occasional occurrence of rapid growth might represent a further indication for resection and justifies strict imaging follow-up. The pattern of growth, rather than absolute size, of a lesion is suggested for selection of asymptomatic patients who might benefit from preventive surgical excision. When feasible, the authors prefer enucleation to remove giant haemangiomas.