Can a liver hemangioma go away on its own?
![Liver hemangioma does not go away without treatment.](https://images.medicinenet.com/images/article/main_image/hepatic-hemangioma.jpg?output-quality=75)
No, liver hemangioma doesn’t go away without treatment. People who have liver hemangioma rarely experience signs and symptoms and typically don't need treatment. They are generally small and even if they become large they may not carry significant risk. As per research, cancer formation has not been reported in liver hemangiomas. Hence, most asymptomatic liver hemangiomas are left untreated. No medical therapy capable of convincingly and permanently reducing the size of hepatic hemangiomas has been described. Treatment of hemangiomas usually involves surgery to remove the tumor only if it is causing significant symptoms.
What is a liver hemangioma?
A liver hemangioma is a noncancerous or nonaggressive tumor made of widened blood vessels that are irregular in arrangement and size. They are the most common benign tumors affecting the liver. A liver hemangioma may usually appear dark blue or purple due to the presence of the dark blood in them. They may range from pinpoint size to larger than the size of a grapefruit. They can be congenital (by birth) or may occur later in life. Liver hemangiomas are most common in people in their 30s to 50s. Also, it is more common in women than in men. They tend to grow slowly and are sensitive to hormonal changes. Most liver hemangiomas are discovered while a patient is being examined for some other reason (incidental finding). Rarely, a liver hemangioma may grow and cause symptoms, such as
- Pain, vague discomfort or fullness in the right upper area of the stomach
- Feeling full even after eating a small amount of food/poor appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Jaundice
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Gastrointestinal reflux disease
- Fever of unknown origin
- Difficulty breathing (pressure on the diaphragm, above the liver)
When and how is liver hemangioma treated?
As discussed above, liver hemangioma is not treated until it causes significant symptoms. The treatment options depend on the location and size. It is usually solitary, but a few patients may have multiple hemangiomas in their liver. Patients with large hemangiomas (i.e. >10 cm) may require long-term follow-ups and treatment as they are at increased risk of complications. Initially, they may be managed by corticosteroids or heart failure medications, depending on the patient’s symptoms. However, in rare cases, surgery may be required.
- Liver artery embolization: Injecting medication into the artery to block the blood supply. Healthy liver tissue is unharmed because it can draw blood from other nearby vessels.
- Liver artery ligation: This is a procedure that blocks the hemangioma’s blood supply by artery ligation and thus, halts the growth.
- Radiation therapy is rarely used. It uses powerful energy beams, such as X-rays, to damage the cells of the hemangioma.
- In most cases, a hemangioma can be separated from the liver through surgery.
- In some cases, surgeons may need to remove a portion of the liver along with the hemangioma.
- In a very rare event, where the patient may have a large hemangioma or multiple hemangiomas and those can't be treated by other means, the doctor may recommend surgery to remove the liver and replace it with a liver from a donor.
What is the outlook of patients with liver hemangioma?
The overall outlook for most patients with a liver hemangioma is favorable because they remain asymptomatic and rarely cause significant complications. In case they cause significant symptoms, treatment options are available to ensure that they do not become fatal.
![](https://images.medicinenet.com//images/slideshow/hepatitis-s1-liver-hepatitis-virus.jpg)
SLIDESHOW
Hepatitis C, Hep B, Hep A: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment See SlideshowHealth Solutions From Our Sponsors
Top Can a Liver Hemangioma Go Away on Its Own Related Articles
Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain can have many causes that range from mild to severe. Some of these causes include bloating, gas, colitis, endometriosis, food poisoning, GERD, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), ovarian cysts, abdominal adhesions, diverticulitis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, gallbladder disease, liver disease, and cancers. Signs and symptoms of the more serious causes include dehydration, bloody or black tarry stools, severe abdominal pain, pain with no urination or painful urination. Treatment for abdominal pain depends upon the cause.What's Causing Your Abdominal Pain?
In general, abdominal pain, which may be in the lower left or right of your abdomen, is a symptom of many possible conditions including appendicitis, ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, indigestion, and others. It may accompany constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, and other symptoms. Find out the potential causes of pain in the abdomen and learn when you should see a doctor.Fever
Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 F (37 C), in practice, a person is usually not considered to have a significant fever until the temperature is above 100.4 F (38 C). Fever is part of the body's own disease-fighting arsenal; rising body temperatures apparently are capable of killing off many disease-producing organisms.GERD (Acid Reflux, Heartburn)
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also called acid reflux, can cause symptoms like heartburn, chest pain, regurgitation, and nausea. Learn about causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention.GERD Quiz
Who is at risk for developing GERD? Are you? Take this quiz to learn what GERD is, if you're at risk, and what you can do about it.GERD: Is the Damage Reversible?
Gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD is caused by the weakening of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). LES is a group of muscles that act as a valve to prevent the acidic contents of the stomach from refluxing into the esophagus.Jaundice in Adults (Hyperbilirubinemia)
Jaundice or hyperbilirubinemia in adults is caused by an underlying disease or condition. Learn about when to worry about jaundice in adults, symptoms, treatment, causes, diagnosis, and prevention.Jaundice Picture
Often, physiologic jaundice -- the type seen in most newborns -- does not require treatment. See a picture of Jaundice and learn more about the health topic.Liver Disease
Liver disease can be cause by a variety of things including infection (hepatitis), diseases, for example, gallstones, high cholesterol or triglycerides, blood flow obstruction to the liver, and toxins (medications and chemicals). Symptoms of liver disease depends upon the cause and may include nausea, vomiting, upper right abdominal pain, and jaundice. Treatment depends upon the cause of the liver disease.Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea and vomiting are symptoms of many conditions including motion sickness, pregnancy, emotional stress, gallbladder disease, and other illnesses. Learn about causes, treatment, and when to be concerned.How to Get Rid of Nausea and Vomiting
What is nausea? Do you want to know how to get rid of nausea and how to stop vomiting? Learn home remedies for nausea, anti-nausea medication, what causes nausea, and other info crucial to nausea relief. Understand why we vomit, how vomiting can be treated or prevented, and more.Newborn Jaundice (Neonatal Jaundice)
Jaundice in newborns and babies (neonatal jaundice) usually occurs because of a normal increase in red blood cell breakdown and the fact that their immature livers are not efficient at removing bilirubin from the bloodstream. Symptoms of jaundice are fever, poor feeding, and looking ill. Newborn jaundice is very common and is caused because the newborn's liver isn’t mature enough to remove bilirubin from the blood. Treatment of jaundice in newborns includes phototherapy, tanning booths, and other treatments.Tummy Trouble Quiz
Tummy Troubles? Get a better idea of what's causing the nausea, vomiting, bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, pain, and other gastrointestinal discomforts and problems. Take the Tummy Troubles Quiz!What Causes Vomiting? 7 Reasons Why and How to Ease It
Vomiting is a reflex directed by the brain toward the intestines to reverse their peristaltic movements to force the contents of the stomach out through the mouth. It is usually a symptom of an underlying disease.What Does it Mean If You Have Urobilinogen in Your Urine?
Urobilinogen is a substance that is produced when bilirubin, a waste product produced by the breakdown of red blood cells, is processed in the liver and released into the intestine. Excess urobilinogen in urine may indicate liver diseases, such as viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, or liver damage. It is caused by drugs, toxic substances, or conditions associated with increased red blood cell destruction (hemolytic anemia). In a person with low urine urobilinogen and/or signs of liver dysfunction, it can be indicative of hepatic or biliary obstruction.