Diagnosis, management, and outcomes of 115 patients with hepatic hemangioma Journal Article


Authors: Yoon, S. S.; Charny, C. K.; Fong, Y.; Jarnagin, W. R.; Schwartz, L. H.; Blumgart, L. H.; DeMatteo, R. P.
Article Title: Diagnosis, management, and outcomes of 115 patients with hepatic hemangioma
Abstract: Background Hepatic hemangiomas are congenital vascular malformations and are the most common benign hepatic tumors. Because the use of cross-sectional imaging has increased, benign hepatic tumors, especially hemangiomas, are encountered more frequently, so clinicians should be familiar with the most appropriate diagnostic tests, management, and outcomes of patients with hepatic hemangioma. Study design All patients with a primary diagnosis of hepatic hemangioma referred for surgical evaluation at our institution between January 1992 and December 2000 were identified from a prospective database. Demographics, presentation, tumor characteristics, diagnostic studies, surgical procedures, and outcomes were analyzed. Results Of 115 patients in the study, nearly half were asymptomatic. In symptomatic patients, abdominal pain or discomfort was the most common presenting symptom. At our institution, the diagnosis of hemangioma was established by ultrasonographic studies in 57% of patients tested, by CT scan in 73%, and by MRI in 84%. In patients with large tumors considered for resection, direct angiography or, more recently, CT angiography, confirmed the diagnosis in 27 of 29 patients (93%). Enucleation was performed in 31 (60%) of the 52 patients who underwent surgical resection; 63 patients were observed. Postoperative complications occurred in 13 patients (25%), and there were no perioperative deaths. Of the patients with symptoms before resection, 96% had resolution of symptoms after operation. Conclusions Hepatic hemangioma can be diagnosed in most patients using noninvasive studies, particularly MRI. Hepatic hemangiomas can be removed safely if patients become symptomatic or when malignancy cannot be excluded. CT angiography can be a valuable preoperative study in patients with large tumors, and enucleation is the procedure of choice. In asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic patients, hepatic hemangiomas usually have a benign course and can be observed. © 2003 by the American College of Surgeons.
Keywords: adult; controlled study; treatment outcome; aged; aged, 80 and over; middle aged; major clinical study; clinical feature; liver neoplasms; nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; demography; computer assisted tomography; data base; abdominal pain; postoperative complication; liver tumor; echography; liver resection; surgical mortality; liver surgery; hepatectomy; liver hemangioma; angiography; hemangioma; tumor diagnosis; humans; human; male; female; priority journal; article
Journal Title: Journal of the American College of Surgeons
Volume: 197
Issue: 3
ISSN: 1072-7515
Publisher: Elsevier Science, Inc.  
Date Published: 2003-09-01
Start Page: 392
End Page: 402
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/s1072-7515(03)00420-4
PUBMED: 12946794
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Export Date: 12 September 2014 -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Sam Yoon
    108 Yoon
  2. Leslie H Blumgart
    352 Blumgart
  3. Ronald P DeMatteo
    637 DeMatteo
  4. Lawrence H Schwartz
    307 Schwartz
  5. William R Jarnagin
    905 Jarnagin
  6. Yuman Fong
    775 Fong