The Korean Journal of Medicine

The Korean Association of Internal Medicine (대한내과학회)
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Benign Vascular Hepatic Tumor

혈관성 종양

  • Kim, Do Young (Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine)
  • 김도영 (연세대학교 의과대학 내과학교실)
  • Published : 2013.03.01
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Abstract

Hemangioma is the most common type of benign vascular hepatic tumor. It is more prevalent in women with a 5:1 female: male ratio with a mean age of 50 years. Symptoms related to hemangiomas are mostly absent even in giant (> 10 cm) ones. The most feared complication of hemangioma is abdominal hemorrhage caused by rupture, the risk of which is nearly zero for hemangiomas < 5 cm and rupture rarely occurs even in patients with giant hemangiomas. The diagnosis of hemangioma depends on the findings in imaging modalities such as US, dynamic computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The typical features of hemangiomas in US are well-circumscribed hyperechoic nodule, iso- or hypoechoic nodule with hyperechoic rim. In a liver with underlying fatty change, hemangioma may appear as a hypoechoic nodule. It is necessary to proceed on other high-resoultion modality (CT or MRI) if the finding in US is atypical or the patient has chronic liver disease. The characteristics of hemangiomas in CT or MRI is peripheral globular enhancement with centripetal progression and persistence of enhancement in delayed phase. Although it is controversial, follow-up with annual US scans is advised for the newly diagnosed hemangiomas.

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