Giant Liver Hemangiomas 12+cm Surgery or Not?

[Cathie777]

I was diagnoised (FINALLY!!!) with a giant liver hemangioma after 5yrs of going to the doctor. My GI doctor said to just continue monitoring it and it continued to grow just in the first 6 months from size of baseball to size of a melon. He said it was more dangerous to remove it, and to just leave it in. I looked at him kind of puzzled and asked, "Am I then just to live with these symptoms?" So he then said well maybe we should send you to a specialist who said the exact opposite. That it needs to be surgerically removed as obviously its growing and the longer I wait the more complicated the surgery will be. I could go into heart failure, and if I just let it go I might eventually need a liver transplant. Surgery- Chevron Incision 24"-30" straight down entire stomach and then all the way off to my right hip. Very invasive (and scary). Was told USC could do it less invasively.
Trying to find info from people who've had this surgery and what it was like and if it really did help?
Also interested in comparing others symptoms.
But I am confused, still being told different things.....that I should have the surgery, and that I should not, that its more dangerous. So when should someone have surgery for these giant hemangiomas???



This discussion is related to liver hemangiomas.

[hurricanedani]

I found out less than a week ago that I had a liver hemangioma that is almost 10cm. I went to a gastroenterologist who couldn't help, but referred me to a liver transplant surgeon. I called them today to schedule an appointment and they sound like they know what they are doing. The medical assistant was telling me that they do a few of these a week. Next Wednesday, the doctors will be reviewing my CT/MRI do decide what route (surgery or not) is best for me.
I discovered my hemangiomas because I was having trouble laying on my sides and back. I went to my PCP and he suggest that I get a CT. My diaphragm hurts when I breathe in deeply, sneeze, cough and hiccup. I know I'm rambling, but this thing is nerve wrecking. I had the Gastroenterologist take blood just to be sure that they are benign.

Cathie777- was it easy to find a doctor that would do them laproscopically? I really don't want a chevron cut.

[Dillly]

Dr Arthur Fusco is the one I will recommend to whoever is from Las Vegas , Nevada.... He did my surgery on February . My hemangioma was about 13mm.  He is amazing...Good luck 2 you all...

[JJJJ12]

I had my hemangioma remove June of last year.  I recently started having the same symptoms.  Does anyone know if they can regrow?

[tamiesue2]

I was just recently diagnosed with multiple hepatic hemangiomas, the largest being 16.8cm on the right lobe of my liver. I do have one inside the left lobe. The tumor is centrally located and will require the removal of most of my liver. I live in Central Illinois and my problem seems to be finding a surgeon skilled in this type of surgery. Any recommendations from the group?

Tamie

[BeeShell]

Thank you for writing and responding to these posts. You will never know how much it means to me to read someone else having the same experiences as myself.

[BeeShell]

I am good thanks. This is the first time I have found ANYONE who has what I have and I will take my chances that the people who were talking two months ago as I was first showing symptoms might just see this. If you don't like the long thread, don't read it. I don't care for your "flavor of issue".