liver hemangiomas

[bCanuck]

Ok I have been feeling ill (weak and just not myself) for the past 3 months I have had an ESR rating of 48 which has now gone down to 2 and slightly high platelet level. Recently I have been having upper abdominal pain and went for an ultrasound. The ultrasound found something that the doctor says is a hemangioma. I was wondering how sure he can be with the finding through an ultrasound and also if it could be cancerous. The hemangioma is on my liver and is 2.2 cm. Another question I have is how do you treat or get rid of these hemangiomas.

By the way I am a 26 year old male who is usually healthy and athletic.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

A hemangioma is typically a benign lesion that is not associated with liver cancer.  

Typically, they can be observed.  However, if there is rapid growth - or if the lesion grows greater than 5cm, then removal can be considered.  

You can consider a CT scan or MRI for further definition of the lesion.

Discussion of possible removal can be done in conjunction with a surgeon.

These options can be discussed with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_b

[van71]

Hi, I was just diagnosed with a liver hemangioma the same size as yours in December. I am having upper abdominal pain so they did a catscan and found it. To make sure that is what it was. they did another catscan and confirmed it was a hemangioma. All my drs are saying it is not causing my pain (since then have been diagnosed with a bad gallbladder), since these are asymptomatic unless they are giant (which ours are not). They will monitor mine every six months for awhile to make sure it is not growing...that is the only thing they do worry about. These are benign and since ours is soo small should not be of concern. I am a healthy 34 year old, so wondered why I had one of these and the drs say I have most likely had since birth. Because these are asymptomatic, most people that do have them usually never even know because they are found accidentally when testing for other problems. They do not recommend surgically removing these, again unless they grow or are giant. Please feel free to ask me any questions, as I have done a ton of research the last two months...but am not a dr.

VAN

[bCanuck]

HI thanks for the response. I am really concerned because I have been feeling ill for months and Im not too sure if this hemangioma is what is causing it. I have also read that they have no symptoms... So that doesnt explain why my stomach feels hard and bloated and the pain that I get in the abdomin area. The bloating has been on and off for a few weeks now and I have been to the doctor numerous times concerning this and other problems. Im getting really frustrated with this. Did you have liver function tests done to see if your liver was normal?

[mmfd]

Hi.  I was also told I have a liver hemangioma.  This was years ago and I don't remember how big it was.  One thing for sure is that it cannot be biopsied as the liver is extremely vascular and it would cause too much bleeding.  I was having a lot of bloating then also and general stomach distress.  I was found to have GERD, or reflux, and with treatment with PPI's like Protonix, it went away.  I actually forgot about the hemangioma!  One that size will not cause symptoms and they certainly wouldn't want to take it out.  If your liver enzymes are normal, and I would ask to have  it done if only for peace of mind, then just forget about it!  PS I am an RN.

[van71]

It may be related to a different problem. Like me, they found it when trying to figure out what is causing my abdominal pain. My bloodwork for my liver came back fine. However, they have found my gallbladder is not functioning properly which is causing my abdominal pain. Did they look at your gallbladder during the ultrasound? You may want to ask your dr about a hida scan to test it, since I dont have stones that is the test that discovered my problem. Where is your pain at in your abdomen?

VAN

[Mitaa]

I was dign

[msc]

I am a 32 yo female recently diagnosed with a liver hemangioma 4.3cm.  via sonogram and CT.  I am experiencing nausea and some pain, don't know if it has anything to do with the hemangioma, but wonder what options I have for treatment and if it is safe for me to get pregnant...I heard that the risk of hemorrage is greater during pregnancy as well as the possibility of increased growth....    
          

                  Thanks

[van71]

Hi, I just had a baby 7 months ago and they found the 7mm hemangioma 2 months ago during a CT scan for abdominal pain (drs say is not causing the pain). I want to have another child, so asked three drs and they all said I could. However, I cannot be on birth control since those can (not proven) make it grow. I have done alot of research online and it is very rare that these rupture during labor. Have you discussed with your dr?

VAN

[Anna2]

Hello,

I was just diagnosed with a liver hemangioma. I am 30 years old and 14 weeks pregnant.
I have been suffering from severe acid reflux and bloating for 7 months and even though endoscopy did not reveal anything and acid reflux medications does not help I never got an explanation for my problems. I noticed a month ago a mass below my heart where the rib cage comes together. I have also had severe pain in my right side, mistakenly diagnosed for gallbladder problems. The ultrasound yesterday showed a clean gallbladder with no signs of distress but
I finally got diagnosed through ultrasound with a liver hemangioma explaining my mass , and I am now really worried. I did not find out the size, but I am worried about my pregnancy and can I continue my athletic lifestyle?
What other tests needs to be done, and what could be done during pregnancy? Can it rupture during delivery?
I am so worried, please help.
Anna

[Asianbunny1]

Any recommendations for the pain, tenderness and bloating in the abdominal related to liver hermangiomas?  
My husband already had a CT scan, ultrasound and blood work.  CT scan found 2 in the liver (both under 3cm) and 1 cysts in the kidney, tests are negative for any hepatitis, however, he is feeling very weak (past 4 weeks), loss appetite (loss 5 lbs in 2 weeks), low grade fever.  One of the doctors prescribed antibiotics (took it for 2 weeks), he's not getting better and now they are recommending him to wait and see but we find this recommendation to be unsatisfactory.

[4eva84]

Hi!  My mom has been feeling the same ab pain as well.  She had an ultrasound, and they found a hemagioma (~5 cm) or so...She's been hospitalized, and they've been doing so many blood tests on her.  CT scan shows some "masses" in the liver (are these the hemagioma's?)

The doc just informed me of the "masses" this evening...and suggest it "may" be cancer, but they're unsure.  They're going to do an ultrasound biopsy TOMORROW...but i've read on how the liver is quite vascularized, and if it's not careful, they may pop the hemagioma!  

HOw bad is the situation???  My mom has always been healthy, until recently she started to feel ab pain after taking excessive pain medications!  I'm so scared at her condition, and have been browsing the net in search for some news, hopefully, comforting news!

[4eva84]

since you did so much research...is there any way i can contact you personally? It'd be awesome to hear what info's you've gathered.  My family has been totally down since this evening.  I've been crying!  I so hope it's not cancer!!!

[4eva84]

actually, her liver is swollen (about 1/2 larger than the norm)...and she CT scan shows swollen lymph nodes!!!  aY yah!  Please help!  i'm desperate!

[4eva84]

actually, her liver is swollen (about 1/3 larger than the norm)...and she CT scan shows swollen lymph nodes!!!  aY yah!  Please help!  i'm desperate!

[4eva84]

oh gosh...i just spoke w/ the doc and they said it seems not to be hemangioma!  I'M GOING BERSERKO!  please advise!

[4xMom]

I am a 39 y-o mother of 4 who had a liver resection over a year ago to remove 3 giant hemangiomas.  They measured 9cm, 11cm and 12.5cm.  They affected both lobes of the liver.  They just removed the giant ones and left behind 4-5 much smaller ones.  My question to anyone out there who may know is this -- Can they grow back?  How likely are the ones left behind to grow to giant sizes?  I am a RN who has done massive amounts of research on this subject and I cannot find an answer.  I have a 13inch scar running across my abdomen to remind me of the hell I went through to have them removed and tomorrow is my one year CATSCAN.  I have been having signs of the early symptoms that I experienced almost 2 years ago...  lightheadedness, growing belly (I'm 5'4" and 118 lbs).  That's how it started.  I am afraid that they will grow back.  The thoughts floating around the med community is that estrogen fuels the growth of hemangiomas.  To the person with liver hemangiomas contemplating birth control pills -- don't!  That was the first question asked of me when they saw I had "tumors" on sonogram.  I had 3 pregnancies in 4 years and pregnancy also is believed to fuel hemangioma growth due to the increased hormone production.  That is why women present more often than men with this condition.  Disclose info about your hemangiomas to your doctor when discussing bc pills and pregnancy.  Any ideas about re-growth out there?

[SweetTiff]

Hi, I'm a 37 year old female & had been having upper abdominal pain for aprox a year now, recently I had been feeling really bloated in the upper right side (right under rib cage)went to the Dr's & during ultrasound they found 2 masses in my liver.were also able to "feel" my liver from the outside??
After Nuclear scan,endoscopy,CT & MRI they are still "thinking" they are hemangiomas measuring 4.5 x 6.5 & 3.3 x 2.5 in the right lobe of the liver. I am so frustrated because after all these tests they are still just unsure, They say they look like hemangiomas but are not acting like hemangiomas... They Dr's won't tell me its not cancer as of yet, but from what I have read Biopsy is VERY dangerous, what other options are out there to rule out cancer?
I am a wife & mother of 2, I feel like I need some answers.
any information woudl be helpful.
Tiff

[rmichellek]

Looks as though most of us are in the same boat - hemagioma, pain, nausea, bloating, and that most the doctors say the symptoms are not related to the hemangioma. Obviously, after reading everyones comments, the symptoms are related to the hemangioma. I have personally known that, but you all have confirmed it for me. To try to answer some of your questions from my research - they should not be biopsied; pregnancy can cause them to grow as well as bc pills; doctors don't think they will grow back but it's not conclusive; they claim they are normally asymptomatic (obviously not); the liver can still function normally; info about what is considered a giant/large tumor varies.
I'm glad to have found this site, and if there are any more specific questions that I have researched, I will be glad to let you know what I have found. The biggest problem is that it is not black and white - proffessionals have different opinions so obviously they don't know enough about hemangiomas of the liver to give any of us conclusive answers. Good luck and God bless you all!

[rmichellek]

I have been obsessed with doing research since my diagnosis so I would interested to talk to who someone else who is experiencing the same things I am and to know more about your personal experience/knowledge. E-mail: ***@****

[cnh]

I was diagnosed with a giant cavernous liver hemangioma in August 2005, after my doctor ordered an ultrasound for abdominal pain.  The mass measured 6.7 cm. The ultrasound also revealed gallstones which probably was the reason for my pain.  I had an emergency CT scan a day later and the scan measured the mass even bigger at 7.2 cm.  I was told that this is a pretty large tumor but they are just going to keep doing ultrasounds every 6 months to see if it is growing.  I just had my second ultraound in January and it has grown to nearly 7.8 cm. The radiologist said measuring techniques may be the reason for the size difference.  I guess I will find out during my next scan if it has grown more.  I had my gallbladder out a few weeks ago and most of the pain I was feeling has improved so it was mainly my gallbladder that was acting up. Sometimes I have pain around my liver area but it is not too bad. I think it may be pain left over from my gallbladder surgery.  The surgeon said I may be a good candidate for Catherization Embolization if it grows much bigger.  I am only 5' 2" and weigh 120 pounds so I don't have much room for something too big to be growing inside.  I have heard of people having hemangiomas that are are over 10 cm.  Removing them is a pretty risky operation because of the risk or hemhorrage, so I am opting to have scans every 6 months until the doc feels they should intervene.  For those that have small hemangiomas (less than 4 cm), please don't worry too much.  My surgeon told me not to do contact sports like football or anything that could cause your liver to be hit hard.  Otherwise, there have been only very few cases of these tumors rupturing.  A lot of times people are born with these things (like a birthmark inside) and have them their whole life. Hope this helps

[canadiangal]

Hello
I too was just diagnosed with a henagioma. I am not yet sure of the size, I am scheduled for an MRI in a couple of weeks. I too have been experiencing abdominal pain, headaches, weakness and bloating (I look pregnant). I don't have much of an appetite and when I do eat I feel worse..............does any one know if this is common? I am usaually quite active but lately I have no energy and hurt in places I didn't know could hurt (my spine and back of my head) I see that most doctors say that this cannot cause bloating etc...but in reading the posts most people have been experiencing these sypmptoms.

[bird83]

Hi Everyone past ten years I was diagnosis liver hemangiomas the begin it was 3cm long about last year it was about 8cm long. I did radio frequect albation it shrunk to 5cm but I am still in pain in my right side and nausea. the pain get worse when I sit for about 15 minutes & driving my car laying down on my right side. the possible I might have to do another albation or have liver resecition done on my right lobe on my liver. Please someone give me advice on this Thanks

[kar-bear]

Hi, had a question for anyone who has had a single liver hemangioma. I was diagonesed with a hemangioma about 14 years ago. recently, through a sonogram my hemangioma has gotten a little bigger. the gastronologist told me that it was unusual for someone to have only one hemangioma and that most people have several at a time on their liver.Mine is in the left lobe of the liver. what are some treatments if possible without surgery to make this shrink? If anyone can shed any light on this topic it would be great to hear a comment back thanks!!!!!!!!1

[kar-bear]

Hi, had a question for anyone who has had a single liver hemangioma. I was diagonesed with a hemangioma about 14 years ago. recently, through a sonogram my hemangioma has gotten a little bigger. the gastronologist told me that it was unusual for someone to have only one hemangioma and that most people have several at a time on their liver.Mine is in the left lobe of the liver. what are some treatments if possible without surgery to make this shrink? If anyone can shed any light on this topic it would be great to hear a comment back thanks!!!!!!!!1