liver hemangiomas

[bCanuck]

Ok I have been feeling ill (weak and just not myself) for the past 3 months I have had an ESR rating of 48 which has now gone down to 2 and slightly high platelet level. Recently I have been having upper abdominal pain and went for an ultrasound. The ultrasound found something that the doctor says is a hemangioma. I was wondering how sure he can be with the finding through an ultrasound and also if it could be cancerous. The hemangioma is on my liver and is 2.2 cm. Another question I have is how do you treat or get rid of these hemangiomas.

By the way I am a 26 year old male who is usually healthy and athletic.

[Lillola1977]

A related discussion, Spots on Liver on CT Scan was started.

[JjudetteG]

I'm 49. Starting to go through the change. Ultrasound found my lady parts in good working order. So they did a CT scan with dye. Found 5 lesions. Sizes between 1.4 cm and 6 cm. I have pain in lower right quadrant of liver. Funny thing is they cannot say if it a tumor or not . They want me to get MRI with dye. Dye is poison. But everyone else on this post says theirs were diagnosed with CT scan or ultrasound. Very suspicious 5 years ago you could diagnose with CT or ultras. I don't trust the drug companies at all. I refused the dye but did the MRI today.

[Payo]

A related discussion, liver Hemangiomas was started.

[cruden]

A related discussion, symptom of a liver hemangioma was started.

[SofiasMom]

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[Cathie777]

A related discussion, Giant Liver Hemangiomas 12+cm Surgery or Not? was started.

[mcamm]

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[sandy620]

A related discussion, ver hemangiomas and gallstones cause daily fatigue??? was started.

[shock1]

A related discussion, Hemangioma not painful was started.

[kizzy33]

I  had a ct scan that  stated my lesions werent  hemangiomas either then they sent me for an mri before they did the biopsy  which then stated once again that they were in fact liver hemangiomas the test kept going back and forth it was very scarey but now they are just going to watch mine for 2 months more  re-do the mri and if any changes set up the liver biopsy then . Good luck hopefully yours will come back to be liver hemangiomas after all. I did a lot of research  while i was waiting for my test to come back to see if they were cancerous and it  shows another type of lession could be a liver adenoma which alot of women who have taken birth control or of child bearing age are getting  it is caused from the increased hormone  look those up online see what you think  but good luck ?

[fivesenough]

I am freaking out...please anyone that can help.... I am 39 years old, female, mother of five. I have had a pain in my side, right under my right rib, off to the side a bit for months..right around the time of my menstrual cycle. It stuck around this month, and I thought I felt a lump, so I went to the ER. They did a liver enzyme test..normal. A pelvic exam, normal, and and a CT..not normal. Showed "multiple liver lesions", one of which is 7 centimeters (3 inches) big. I had a second, "triple phase CT". The radiologist determined they do not look like hemangiomas. I had a chest ex-ray, nothing there, either. No cirhosis (sp?) and no lyphoma in my stomach, or anywhere else that they see.I had my gall bladder and appendix removed 19 years ago, just 6 weeks after the birth of my first child. I have to have a biopsy to determine if I have cancer. I am so scared! Everything I read on the "net" is very bad. I have no real "pain", just some discomfort that if it gets a little worse I take two Ibuprofen and I'm good. No jaundice, either. I'm not tired, not sick, still eat (except since they told me this I'm not real hungry...) still go to work, everything basically normal except these THINGS in my liver. Could I really have liver cancer??? I am very scared. I go for my biopsy on Thursday, Oct. 19th. Please, someone tell me if they've experienced anything similar, or have advice or words of comfort. I truly am petrified.

[umka123]

Hi,everyone. I want to share what's happened with my husband.he has a giant hemangioma 8cm. For about 2.5 yrs every time he gets very exausted at work or gets cold or a flue, he starsts with fever up to 103, but then this fever doesn't go away for 3-4 weeks. Today this is his 5th epizode for a time being. There are no  symptoms other than weakness due to  a fever. Last time he was hospitalised for 7 days.Doctots could not find anything. The blood tests were completely normal, exept white cells decreased to 4.0(Normal range is 4.5 to 10). Doctors tried empirical administration of Avelox(antibiotic) and then the fever went gradually down.Right now, my husband has low grade fever. I give him Avelox, but fever does not go away.Could this be hemangioma playing this trick with him? Can anybody share his thoughts about this?

[umka123]

It is me again(husband with hemangioma). I forgot to add that blood test showed Low WBC(4.0) and low TSH thyroid test(hyperthyroidism). I don't understand, why my husband gets such prolong episodes of fever every time he starts a common cold. He did a PET scan which showed nothing exept hamangioma. He was seen by so many specialist while in the hospital, but nobody could come to a decision exept may be a thyroid as a cause.Even his insurance refused to pay for his staying in the hospital because it was  "unnecessary". So stupid. Last time he was sick for 3 weeks and he had just started a good job, and guess what? They fired him  next day he came back from the hospital.Right now he has no medical insurance and he is sick again.I am so frustrated. Could this be hemangioma or else?

[DOHER09]

I was diagnosed with a hemangioma last 8/05 which was about 16 to 17 centimeters.  I guess you would call it a giant hemangioma.  My doctor basically said we'll watch it and to avoid any trauma to my upper right side.

I returned for a cat scan in Oct 06 for a comparison of the hemangioma.  There was no change in size but it is impacting other organs like my right kidney, colon and inferior vena cava vein.  Otherwis, everything else looked normal.  He did want me to consult with a surgeon to get his ideas.  It seems that everything I'm reading on these sites encourage surgery for giant hemangiomas.  I'm having no pain but I am now in fear of any trauma that would cause it to rupture.  It seems if it ruptures you're in a very dangerous situation with internal bleeding and your bascially in big trouble but you would be at the mercy of an emergency room that is really not equipped to handle situation. *Even my doctor said that would not be a good scenario.  I did call a surgeon, Dr. Leslie Blumgart from Sloan Kettering that I will meet with.  I did send my reports to his office and he did say I would be a candidate for surgery however, he wants to read my x-rays, etc..

I've heard of RF Abilation that send electric currents to hemangioma but is dangerous if it is near other organs.  Also, embolization my doctor said would probably not be an option because mine is so big.  I am very nervous and would greatly like to hear from anyone in the same situation.  The surgery seems so major and archaic especially in today's times and I'm afraid of the risks.  I have two children that have other issues regarding connective tissue disorders and I need to be around for them & my husband.

Thanks for listening. I just came across this forum.  I'm usually on other forums for my kids problems, (ehlers Danlos Syndrome  & Pectus excavatum)

Thanks.
T.

[kizzy33]

nine months seems like a  long time to wait maybe 3-6 months . I waited six months with mine because it orginally appeared that they were hemangiomas but now after waiting  6 months and retesting  it appears that they are more than that i dont mean to scare you but we no our own bodies  and we need to listen to them .  My doctor told me to wait unless I had symptoms , i started having alot of  heartburn and I  no longer have my gallbladder but the symptoms were that of the pain  similiar to  when I was having gallbladder attacks. It sounds like you also have symptoms do you still have your gallbladder  alot of the comments I read  about these hemangiomas  alot of people have found  later on that there symptoms were gallbladder symptoms after all not from the hemangiomas. I am no  way a medical person but I say time for another opinion. Good luck I hope you start feeling better soon.As for me I had my mri  on thursday last week  I will get the results  hopefully on thursday unless they say I then need a liver biopsy we will see.

[jerri r]

I was diagnosed with 2 small (2 & 3 cm) cavernous hemanginomas in 2002.  With severe pains in lower right side went in for ct scan and they then found the 2 masses agian.  They did a die injected MRI said they are cavernous hemaninomas but are (9 cm).

My family practicioner simply called me on the phone said do nothing but wait and see there size in 9 months.  Should I be concerned?  I am having bloating, pain, naushea after eating.  All off and on!  Also I have been feeling as though my hormones are gong crazy and see my OB next week for that.  Is there a connection.  By the way I have 4 children the youngest 18 months and just had a IUD inserted?)

[kizzy33]

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers but  my last test showed now that it is not a hemangioma  which is why i am so confused becasue i was told thats what it was in january but now the cat scan  shows it is not .Now its not  just one solid mass now theres two of them .I dont understand what made them think that it was a hemangioma in january but  now  based on more test it  was concluded it is not for sure .I am scared becasue if its not a hemangioma as thought and it is not just a simple cyst  so what else is left , all the research i do  doesnt show much else left it could be other  than cancer.I was told if the mri isnt clear enough to figure out what  the two masses are then i will need a liver bipsy have you had one of those?I heard they are painful and risky but  it may finally give me an answere. I hope all goes well with you at you appointment as well.

[cnh]

Kizzy33, I read your thread and hope you are doing better.  I hope your results are good news. I think about how scared and confused I was when I heard I had a mass in my liver, then not knowing what it all meant.  That was is the first time I had ever heard the word hemangioma.  Since then I have learned a lot about them. Please keep in touch on how you are doing and what you find out.  

I go to the surgeon next week to get a consult on the best treatment options for my cavernous liver hemangioma measuring 7.5 x 6.7 x 4.7 cm. I'm going to ask the surgeon about Radiofrequency Ablation and Transcatheter Embolization and what the risks are involved with both.  Hopefully treatment can wait for while because I am not mentally ready to go through anything yet.

[kizzy33]

Well its me again  kizzy33 I just got my last test results and now that so called hemangioma has been ruled to not  be a hemangioma as originally thought  and  per the ct scan it is also not just a simple cyst the ct findings state that it is  very abnormal solid mass and there is actually two of  them not just one as  thought . now an mri is ordered to maybe tell me what it is .Help I am so confused  if  this isn't a hemangioma as originally thought, and not a simple cyst what else could it be anyone have any clue? has anyone ever been told that they had a hemangioma then told later it was more than that ?

[kizzy33]

i was diagnosed in january with a 1.1 cm  hemangioma of my liver  dr said we would watch it i went for an ultrasound  three weeks ago now they  mass has grown to  1.8  very quickly and i now hav a 1.4 cm solid mass on the right kidney my ultrasound report state it is uspcioius for cancer  i had a ct last night  how likely is htis to be cancer anyone know if  hemagiomas spread to toher organs everything iread about solid mass on the kidney say they are 95 % cancerous ??????

[kizzy33]

I was diagnosed in january with a liver hemangioma my dr told me not to worry it was found during a test to look for blood clot after shoulder surgery .I had an ultrasound of it so they could note the size and said nothing would be done unless i developed symptoms or it were to grow. I was  having alot of  abdominal pain  in august went to the dr he ordered another ultrasound. I got a call from him the results show that  within in the 5 month since my last ultrasound it has grown a cm and i now also have a mass on  my kidney  the  set up a ct scan to rule out what they say is neoplastic disease the report shows that since the significant increase in growth so quick  it is suspicious . I dont know what that could mean , When i look up neoplastic disease that could be cancer so i am concerned anyone  have any ideas?

[Kookie76]

I was diagnosed 2 days ago with 1.8 cm hepatic hemangioma.
I also have upper abdominal pain but think it is due to stomach problems.
Have anyone heard of treating hemangioma with chinese herbs?
Check this link:
http://www.herbchina2000.com/therapies/QHP.shtml

[shannon76]

I was diagnosed 8 years ago with over 25 hepatic cavernous hemangiomas of the liver. I was told i couldn't have children and that it would kill me due to the growth when hormones are going crazy, We had been trying to have baby when all this came to the forefront, six months after having a very invasive surgery I found out i was expecting. This was much of a suprise. I followed through with having my son against all the doctors wishes and made it, however in my followup CT scan i had over 85 hemangiomas at that time they stop counting. They say it's rare to have this many. I have been fine for the last 8 yrs. but it's always a concern do the number of them. I have a weaker blood presure than most that they say is related. I began to see a bump on my tongue and though maybe it was the same thing and waited a short time before seeing a doctor in that time it grew rapidly it's 2.7x2.5x1.7transverse it's been told to me its a AVM and have been referred to Dr. Yakes in Colorado. I am very nervous this one i have a lot of pain with and it's large. I also have some flow voids going on as well does anyone need some words of wisdom on the liver and have any for me with my issues!!

[nly10]

I hope this post helps lots of you with large and/or growing cavernous hemangiomas in your liver. I have a number of them and back in Nov. of 2004 was the 2nd person in the U.S. treated with RF, radiofrequency ablation, for the largest hemangioma that was 7.5 cm. I was treated by Dr. Fred Lee, an interventional radiologist at the U of Wisconsin. My hemangioma has shrunk about 30% according to an ultrasound I had a while ago. It may be smaller now.

Essentially, RF runs electric current into the hemangioma and burns the tissue, sclerosing the veins so they will no longer carry the blood that fills these lesions. The body slowly gets rid of a lot of the dead tissue. This procedure was first done in China and I had to email around to radiologists to see if anyone would try it here. One doctor, Ronald Zagoria at Wake Forest, had treated one patient before mine was done. I was going to travel to be treated by him but discovered the Dr. Lee had just invented a new RF multiprobe tool that would make the procedure faster and better. I imagine that many RF docs now use his multiprobe.

The limitations of RF have to do with the size and location of the hemangioma. If it is in a part of the liver that is close to other organs it is too dangerous to use as it may damage them (although since my procedure they may have perfected techniques to prevent this problem). If it is too large, the treatment may not be successful for reasons I don't understand. The great thing about RF is that your treated one day and out of the hospital the next. No big deal. No significant discomfort.

If RF is not an option, another alternative to surgery is embolization, using a cathather through your veins to sclerose the veins by injecting alcohol into them. There are different levels of this procedure. One is sort of a shotgun approach, sclerosing some large veins leading to the hemangioma. This one has complications of killing good liver tissue around the hemangioma. The other is a refined small catheter approach that scleroses small veins virtually inside the hemangioma. It was perfected by Dr. Wayne Yakes in Colorado. I visited with him before deciding to pursue RF. The downside of his embolization procedure is that he can only treat 4 or 5 veins during a procedure  and a large hemangioma has a dozen or more. Since he has to put you under anasthetic for each treatment and spaces them out by a month or two, it looked like I would have to go through the process maybe 5 times. That seemed too much but still looked better than surgery.

Finally, in terms of surgery. There is removal of a lobe of your liver as an option and there's kind of a "melon balling" approach. Surgeons can shoot for the second option but often end up doing the first anyway because the liver is so complex. This is big deal surgery and takes you out of action for a month or two. There are lots of great liver surgery centers, U. of Pittsburgh is the famous one and Dr. Fung there is fantastic to talk to. U of Colorado, Wisconsin, USC (talk to Dr. Rick Selby), Mayo Clinic and more are out there.

And, one more thing. In terms of the potential for rupture of a liver hemangioma, I heard a lot of different things. Primarily, if your hemangioma is well inside the liver, you don't have to worry because if it ruptures it still bleeds within the liver structure. Mine was right on the outside  of my right lobe, so  I was warned not to have it hit by anything. I did worry because I ski hard, over bumps and through the trees. Plus, after vigorous exercise with twisting or lifting or bumps, I had lots of pain on my right side. Then I was told by a few docs that the impact needed to rupture a hemangioma, even one on the outside, would have to be big enough to rupture my liver anyway. I don't think there is clear evidence either way but I wouldn't worry about it unless your hemangioma is more than 10 cm and close to the outside.

I hope all of this info helps. Good luck.