Hemangioma of the Liver

[gloryB565]

I have recently been diagnosed by way of an MRI of a Hemangioma of the Liver.  I have not been to see my physician as yet. They now want to do a bone scan as they "see" something on my spine. I have also been RX'd with Collagenous Collitis many years ago.

I am also suffering with severe constipation.  No amount of any laxitive seems to do much good.  I've tried stool softeners, mineral oil, metamucil, and finally milk of magnesia.  Milk of Mag is the only one that works a little...and it produces diahrrea ..otherwise, the only movement of the bowel that comes out is the size of a "rabbit pellet"...maybe two - six pellet size pieces.

I've had a recent colonoscopy and upper endoscopy.  Supposedly both tests came out negative.

My question is: Since I have been suffering with a good deal of pain on my right side for at least one year, is it possible that I have a complete stomach block?  Should I make an appt. to see my gastroenterologist...or some other specialist?

[griffiths1971]

Oh I forgot to say, my consultant said that the nausea is likened to morning sickness (not that I have ever had any children), the haemangioma is pressing your stomach in the same way a baby presses on your stomach, causing the sick feeling.  I take anti sickness tablets, which kind of sort it out.  I also get chest pains & back pains, they are very sharp.  I also get abdominal cramps, which can sometimes last all day, they are very worrying, the only way they ease up slightly for me is if I lie down.

[griffiths1971]

I was recently diagnosed with three Haemangioma's of the liver.  Two are approx 5cm in diameter & one has grown abnormally large and is 13cm diamater.  They have been growing for approximately 2 years, which would explain my ill health over that period of time.  I spent 2 years visiting doctors to no avail, I even had a laperoscopy in 2001, but unfortunately my GP thought my problem was a gynae one, and didn't investigate the liver.  Everything came to a head about 3 months ago when I was having severe chest pains & nausea.  I gave up on the National Health Service and paid for an ultra sound privately, which showed this large mass on my liver.  I was then treated as an urgent case and sent to see a consultant in Leicester, who after an MRI scan, diagnosed a giant haemangioma.  In the next 4-6 weeks I am having a resection of the liver, which I can honestly say Im not looking forward to, although I am certainly looking forward to being better again.  The operation is very risky, but Im a woman in my early 30's, who wants to start a family in the next year, I am very lucky to have found out about this, as Haemangioma's of the liver are very difficult to detect.

[surgeon]

hemangiomas generally don't cause pain; which is why, presumably, they are still looking for answers. You don't mention ultrasound: that's a better way to test for gallstones than is MRI

[gloryB565]

Question:  If the Hemangioma of my liver is so very insignificant, then why do I have this continued pain in my right side for such a long period.  (FYI: approx. 2 wks ago, I went to the emergency room with a severe pain in the middle of my back and terrible nausea - We thought this could be to do with the heart....but no such thing)  Two days later, had a tremendous nausea problem for almost the entire day.

A bone scan will be performed next week.  They will be looking at something they spotted on my spine when I had the MRI.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Surgeon has kindly addressed your concerns in his comments below and I agree with his assessment.  With an abdominal MRI showing only a hemangioma and negative lower and upper endoscopy, it is unlikely that a major GI disease is causing your symptoms.

If the constipation continues, you may want to consider colonic marker studies to evaluate the motility of the bowel.  This can be discussed with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.

[surgeon]

a complete blockage anywhere in the intestinal tract is not a subtle thing: there would be vomitting, abdominal distention, and major severe illness requiring hospitalization.  Hemangioma of the liver is almost always of no significance unless it's huge, which is rare.