What is Liver Hemangioma? 

The majority of people are completely unaware that they have hepatic hemangioma. It’s frequently detected during a test or procedure for something completely unrelated. Most liver hemangiomas don’t require treatment even after they’ve been diagnosed.

A hemangioma in the liver does not raise your chances of getting cancer. The tumor is usually tiny, with a diameter of fewer than 4 centimeters. It can, however, grow substantially larger in some circumstances. Symptoms such as stomach pain and nausea are more likely to occur with a larger tumor.

A big hemangioma is more likely to form in pregnant women and those who use estrogen replacement medication. This is due to the fact that estrogen has been linked to the development of hepatic hemangiomas.

Most people only have one liver hemangioma. It is possible, however, for many hemangiomas to occur on the liver at the same time. Despite the fact that the growth is not malignant, it has been related to an increased risk of heart failure.

In adults, a hepatic hemangioma usually does not cause issues, but it can be more harmful in infants. The growth is known as infantile hepatic hemangioma in newborns. It’s normally detected before the baby reaches the age of six months. In babies, this is a rare condition.

What are the Symptoms of Liver Hemangioma?

The majority of the time, a hepatic hemangioma does not cause any symptoms. Symptoms may appear if the tumor has been exacerbated by an accident or if estrogen levels have changed.

Signs and symptoms of Liver Hemangioma may include:

• Pain in the upper right side of the abdomen
• Nausea and vomiting
• Lack of appetite
• Bloated Stomach

These symptoms might be caused by something other than a hepatic hemangioma. If you have any concerns about your symptoms, speak with your doctor.

What are the Causes of Liver Hemangioma?

The exact cause of liver hemangioma is unknown. A hepatic hemangioma can be a single aberrant collection of blood vessels or a group of them. The hemangiomas are thought to be congenital, according to researchers. The diameter of liver hemangioma is usually less than four centimeters, but it can be greater in exceptional situations. Larger tumors might induce symptoms including nausea and stomach pain. Hepatic hemangiomas, in the vast majority of cases, do not expand and do not cause any symptoms.

A hepatic hemangioma will not grow and will not cause any signs or symptoms in the vast majority of people. A liver hemangioma can become large enough to cause symptoms and require treatment in a small percentage of people.

Risk Factors: Factors that can increase the risk that a liver hemangioma will be diagnosed include-

• Age
• Sex
• Pregnancy
• Hormone Replacement  Therapy

How the diagnosis of Liver Hemangioma is done?

Since most don’t cause symptoms, most are diagnosed incidentally.   They could show up on an imaging test that was done for another purpose. The following imaging tests can be used to diagnose a hepatic hemangioma:

• Contrast-enhanced ultrasound: The echoes of high-frequency sound waves delivered through bodily tissues are collected and converted into film or photographs.
• Computed Tomography (CT) scan: It is a type of imaging that uses a computer to create a three-dimensional image. Images of a cross-section of your body are created using X-rays and computers.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): It is a type of imaging that is created using a huge magnet, radio waves, and a computer.
• X-ray contrast is used to examine your body’s blood vessels.
• A nuclear scan that creates a picture of the hemangioma using a radioactive trace substance called Technetium-99m.