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.

[meeemo102]

hey, i hope anyone help me i have a 8 cm hemangioma right lope , and im in Egypt , want to know who is the best laproscopic surgeon that any one do it with him, cuz i tend to travel any where to do it

[coffee1st]

I'm recently diagnosed with two hemangiomas, one is large (but fortunately 6 cm - I know it could be worse), the other is 4 cm.  I've been doing a lot of research, as I feel a sense of urgency from my gen. practitioner to see a general surgeon and discuss my options.  No push to see a Hepatic specialist or someone specifically skilled in this are.  So I'm doing my research to that I will know what questions to ask.   Here is one option I haven't seen mentioned here - and was wondering if anyone went this route?  If so - what were your results?  If this link isn't clickable - google:  [Personal experience in embolization of liver hemangiomas] -- it's on the NCBI website.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9863406

[Kgothadi]

Hi Mayito,

I noticed that you had not responded to some of the later queries about your pending surgery at the time (7 May 2010), I am also not sure if you still visit this site and if you do or if someone else had a similar experience and had survived the same surgery please tell as your story and experience as it s a meaningful experience to some of us that it will inspire and be a needed much needed moral booster to go through such a major life decision.

Kgothadi in South Africa

[RickZ62]

Hi,
I live in Boston and am seeing someone at Beth Israel about two 12 cm hemangiomas. I'm trying to decide if i should have surgery now or wait. I'm experiencing pressure and sometime dull pain and my liver is enlarged and protruding. I'm leaving to work overseas at the end of next month so would have to do it right away as i wont have an opportunity for a long while once I leave. It's a tough call.
I will probably want to go to Brigham and womens or Mass General as they are the two best hospitals around (both part of the Harvard system). You may have already had the procedure, and if so, i'd like to know how it went.
Rick

[Philipivich]

I have a 7 cm hemangioma on my right lobe, which I must have removed.  I cannot take it anymore.  I am tettering on the brink, the precipice, Could you please tell me where to find the best laproscopic surgeon in my area...New England?  Specifically what type of sugeon does this work?   I live in a semi-remote area in western Massachusetts so I assume I will have to travel someplace, like to Boston or New Haven, to be able to get the best treatment?  Any help that you or anyone else can provide to me would be so greatly appreciated.

[nbelzile]

Finally met the gastroenterologist yesterday with the results from the numerous blood test and liver biopsy. My husband has Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis or commonly known as NASH or the silent liver disease. Doc gave him antioxidants pills and asked him to drop his weight. We will return in 3 months time for a follow up. We'll have to do another blood run and hope for the best for now.