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What Do Hemangioma Of The Liver Indicate?
Question: I have hemangioma of the liver on my right lobe measuring 8.2 cm x 9.3 cm. It was discover in 1998. It has not grown since 2006, my last Ultra Sound was 2016. I recently saw Gastroenterologist and although it is considered to be a large hemangioma he did not recommend surgery at this time. Yet I have heard people having surgery for much smaller ones. I am in fear of it rupturing without injury as he said could happen, I feel like a ticking time bomb.
Is surgery recommended for hemangioma's this size?
And if I don't....
What are the odds it ruptures without incident and is it fatal?
What are the risks with having it removed?
Thank you
Is surgery recommended for hemangioma's this size?
And if I don't....
What are the odds it ruptures without incident and is it fatal?
What are the risks with having it removed?
Thank you
Brief Answer:
please see below
Detailed Answer:
Hi and welcome.
The treatment of hemagiomas of the liver depend on several factors and most important is size and dynamic of growth. It is accepted that it should be treated if larger than 10cm or if it causes symptoms such as pain, jaundice or compression of adjacent structures (stomach,intestines).
Also, some surgeons recommend resection if hemangioma is located under the liver capsule.
In your case, it seems like there is no rapid growth, and it is not larger than 10cm (although close to it). If there are no symptoms and tumor is not located near the liver surface,then I don't think that surgery is required.
Smaller ones are surgically managed because these may have caused symptoms or may have been located close to the large liver vessels or liver capsule.
Risk of rupture is very small, and even if it ruptures, it rarely causes life threatening bleeding, but rather intramural bleeding, anemia or liver hematoma and then it should be treated surgically.
So, I don't recommend surgery at this point since there is a certain risk form the operation (10% of complications and 2% of mortality) and risk of serious complications without surgery is much lower than this, and you can always do frequent ultrasound follow up and have surgery if it grows more than 10cm. Also, in some centers it can be managed by interventional radiologist by embolization of artery through femoral vessel which is less invasive than surgery..
Let me know if you've any further queries.
Wish you good health.
Regards
please see below
Detailed Answer:
Hi and welcome.
The treatment of hemagiomas of the liver depend on several factors and most important is size and dynamic of growth. It is accepted that it should be treated if larger than 10cm or if it causes symptoms such as pain, jaundice or compression of adjacent structures (stomach,intestines).
Also, some surgeons recommend resection if hemangioma is located under the liver capsule.
In your case, it seems like there is no rapid growth, and it is not larger than 10cm (although close to it). If there are no symptoms and tumor is not located near the liver surface,then I don't think that surgery is required.
Smaller ones are surgically managed because these may have caused symptoms or may have been located close to the large liver vessels or liver capsule.
Risk of rupture is very small, and even if it ruptures, it rarely causes life threatening bleeding, but rather intramural bleeding, anemia or liver hematoma and then it should be treated surgically.
So, I don't recommend surgery at this point since there is a certain risk form the operation (10% of complications and 2% of mortality) and risk of serious complications without surgery is much lower than this, and you can always do frequent ultrasound follow up and have surgery if it grows more than 10cm. Also, in some centers it can be managed by interventional radiologist by embolization of artery through femoral vessel which is less invasive than surgery..
Let me know if you've any further queries.
Wish you good health.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Thank you so very much. That's exactly what I needed to know. You were extremely helpful. Thank you again.
Brief Answer:
You re welcome
Detailed Answer:
You are welcome.
If you have any further queries,I ll be happy to help. regards
You re welcome
Detailed Answer:
You are welcome.
If you have any further queries,I ll be happy to help. regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Remy Koshy
Answered by
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