Section 10. Liver and Gallbladder Disorders

Chapter 139. Liver Tumors

Topics: Introduction | Hemangioma | Hepatocellular Adenoma | Hepatoma | Other Primary Liver Cancers | Metastatic Liver Cancer

Hemangioma

A hemangioma is a noncancerous liver tumor composed of a mass of abnormal blood vessels.

In the United States, an estimated 1 to 5% of adults have small hemangiomas that cause no symptoms. These tumors are usually detected only if a person with them happens to undergo an ultrasound or computed tomography (CT) scan. Such tumors do not require treatment. Hemangiomas that do cause symptoms are very rare. In infants, large hemangiomas occasionally produce symptoms that lead to their detection, such as widespread blood clotting and heart failure. Surgery may be required to remove these large hemangiomas.