 
|
  ![[help]](/images/buttons/help.gif)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cavernous hemangioma occur in individuals of all ages and throughout the world. They are more commonly found in older persons and rarely identified in young children. Cavernous hemangiomata are more common in women than men. Estrogens may increase their size.
Cavernous hemangiomata can vary in size and be as large as several centimeters. The margins of the tumors are usually well-defined. Hemangiomata are filled with vascular channels of various sizes and also contain fibrous tissue. Thrombi (clotted blood) may be present in the vascular channels.
Cavernous hemagiomata are usually asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally when ultrasound, CT or other abdominal imaging studies are undertaken for other reasons. Sometime, a patient with a hemangioma will present with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, other abdominal symptoms or a palpable mass. Rarely, patients with hemangiomata will present with anemia or low platelet counts because red blood cells or platelets are sequestered and/or destroyed in the tumor. Very rarely, a hemangioma can rupture, usually after abdominal trauma.
Diagnosis of cavernous hemangioma is made by special imaging studies. Routine ultrasound is suggestive but usually not diagnostic. Diagnosis can usually be made by nuclear medicine scans using radioactive technicium tagged red blood cells, magnetic resonance or dynamic CT scan with contrast. Rarely, hepatic angiogram is necessary to make a definite diagnosis of hemangioma.
Cavernous hemangiomata are benign. If the patient is asymptomatic, no treatment is necessary. Large, symptomatic hemangiomata are treated by surgical resection.
Click here to return to Diseases of the Liver home page.