Surgical treatment of painful hepatic hemangioma

Abstract

Hemangiomas are the most common hepatic benign lesions. They occur most frequently in young female patients. These tumors are generally found by radiological imaging and, of such examinations, nuclear magnetic resonance is the best diagnostic method. Although highly frequent, it presents few symptoms. Most cases are asymptomatic and thus must be followed up by means of periodic radiological examination. Surgical treatment should be restricted to unusual situations. Spontaneous or traumatic rupture, Kasabach-Merritt syndrome, uncertain diagnosis and pain have been the most common indications. The authors describe a successfully treated case of painful hemangioma of the left hepatic lobe submitted to left hepatectomy.

Keywords

• Liver neoplasms/surgery
• Hemangioma/surgery
• Liver/pathology
• Case reports