Definition of Liver hemangioma
Liver hemangioma (he-man-jee-O-muh) is a noncancerous (benign) mass that happens in the liver. A liver hemangioma is made up of a tangle of capillary. Liver hemangioma is in some cases called hepatic hemangioma or cavernous hemangioma.
Most cases of liver hemangioma are discovered during a test or procedure for some other condition. Many people who have a liver hemangioma never ever experience signs and symptoms and don’t need treatment.
It might be upsetting to know you have a mass in your liver, even if it’s a benign mass. There’s no evidence that a neglected liver hemangioma can lead to liver cancer.
Liver hemangioma: Symptoms
In most cases, liver hemangioma doesn’t cause any signs or symptoms.
Can a liver hemangioma cause pain?
When a liver hemangioma causes symptoms and signs, they might consist of:
- Pain in the upper right abdominal area
- Feeling complete after eating only a percentage of food
- Lack of appetite (liver hemangioma and stomach pain)
- Nausea
- Vomiting
Nevertheless, these symptoms are nonspecific and might be because of something else, even if you have a liver hemangioma.
When to see a doctor
Make a visit with your doctor if you experience any relentless symptoms and signs that fret you.
Causes of liver hemangioma
It’s unclear what causes a liver hemangioma to form. Doctors believe liver hemangioma is genetic– implying that you’re born with it.
Liver hemangioma generally happens as a single abnormal collection of blood vessels that is less than about 1.5 inches (about 4 centimeters) large. Sometimes liver hemangiomas can be larger or happen in multiples.
In many people, liver hemangioma will never grow and never cause any signs and symptoms. However in a small number of people, liver hemangioma will grow to cause problems and need treatment. It’s not clear why this takes place.
Risk elements
Factors that can increase the risk that liver hemangioma will cause symptoms and signs include:
- Your age. Liver hemangioma can be diagnosed at any age, however it’s most commonly identified in individuals ages 30 to 50.
- Your sex. Women are most likely to be detected with liver hemangioma than men are.
- Pregnancy. Women who have actually been pregnant are more likely to be diagnosed with a liver hemangioma than women who have actually never been pregnant. It’s strongly believed the hormone estrogen, which increases during pregnancy, might play a role in liver hemangioma development.
- Hormonal agent replacement therapy. Women who utilized hormone replacement therapy for menopausal symptoms may be more likely to be diagnosed with liver hemangioma than women who did not.
Main Complications
Liver hemangioma and pregnancy
Women who have actually been identified with liver hemangioma deal with a risk of complications if they conceive. The female hormone estrogen, which increases during pregnancy, is believed to cause some liver hemangiomas to grow larger. A growing hemangioma can cause symptoms and signs and may need treatment.
Having a liver hemangioma doesn’t mean you cannot become pregnant. Nevertheless, going over the possible complications with your doctor can assist you make a more informed option.
Problems related to hormone therapy
Medications that influence hormonal agent levels in your body, such as contraceptive pill, could cause issues if you’ve been identified with liver hemangioma. But this is controversial. If you’re considering this type of medication, discuss the benefits and dangers with your doctor.
Tests and diagnosis
Tests and procedures used to identify liver hemangioma include:
- Ultrasound
- Computerized tomography scan
- Magnetic resonance imaging
- Single-photon emission computerized tomography scan
Other tests and procedures might be utilized depending upon your situation.
Treatments and drugs
Many people do not need treatment
If your liver hemangioma is small and doesn’t cause any signs or symptoms, you won’t require treatment. While you may be stressed over leaving a liver mass neglected, in most cases a liver hemangioma will never grow and will never ever cause issues.
Your doctor may set up follow-up examinations to inspect your liver hemangioma occasionally for development if the hemangioma is huge.
Treatment for liver hemangioma that causes signs and symptoms
If a liver hemangioma grows huge enough to push on neighboring structures in your abdomen, it can cause symptoms and signs and may signal that you need treatment. Liver hemangioma treatment depends upon your circumstance, such as the location and size of the hemangioma, whether you have more than one hemangioma, your general health, and your choices.
Treatment options might include:
- Surgery to eliminate the liver hemangioma. If the hemangioma can be easily separated from the liver, your doctor might advise surgery to remove the mass.
- Surgery to eliminate part of the liver, consisting of the hemangioma. In many cases, surgeons may need to remove a part of your liver along with the hemangioma.
- Procedures to stop blood circulation to the hemangioma. Without a blood supply, the hemangioma may stop growing or shrink. Two methods to stop the blood flow are tying off the primary artery (hepatic artery ligation) or injecting medication into the artery to obstruct it (arterial embolization).
The healthy liver tissue is unhurt since it can draw blood from other close-by vessels.
- Liver transplant surgery. In really uncommon situations, if you have a very large hemangioma or several hemangiomas that can’t be relieved by other methods, your doctor may suggest surgery to eliminate your liver and replace it with a liver from a donor.
- Radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses effective energy beams, such as X-rays, to damage the cells of the hemangioma. This treatment is rarely utilized.
Coping and assistance
Knowing that you have a liver hemangioma– even a little, inactive one– can be unsettling initially. You may be worried about whether your liver hemangioma is growing or whether it will cause problems in the future. With time, you may adjust to living with a liver hemangioma. Up until you discover your very own ways of coping, think about aiming to:
- Learn more about liver hemangioma. Write down concerns to ask your doctor at your next consultation. Also ask recommendations for excellent sources of info.
- Know the signs and symptoms of a growing liver hemangioma. Ask your doctor about what signs and symptoms might suggest that your liver hemangioma is growing or causing problems. Signs and symptoms might include relentless pain in the upper right area of your abdomen, queasiness and vomiting. Ask your doctor which symptoms need to trigger you making an appointment for an examination.
- Take care of your liver. A little liver hemangioma will not disrupt your liver’s ability to work. Still, you can choose that help keep your liver healthy. Don’t smoke, follow directions when using home chemicals, maintain a healthy weight, beverage alcohol in small amounts (if at all) and avoid dangerous behaviors, such as vulnerable sex and sharing needles.
