Can liver hemangioma be definitively diagnosed by ultrasound?

Written by Li Hu Chen
Imaging Center
Updated on September 17, 2024
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If there is a hemangioma on the liver, it can generally be diagnosed through an ultrasound of the liver and biliary system. This is because hemangiomas have some characteristic appearances on ultrasound imaging. First, it's essential to understand the structure of the liver hemangioma which can be roughly considered as sponge-like, with a structure similar to a sponge containing many fine structures. When ultrasound is applied, this sponge-like structure will demonstrate strong echogenicity, appearing as a large mass with medium to strong echogenic responses. Thus, it is quite evident on ultrasound and has relatively high specificity, so it can generally be diagnosed through ultrasound. If the appearance is not typical, further examination with an enhanced CT scan can be carried out for diagnosis.

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Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
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Will the hepatic hemangioma grow back after it has been removed?

It is possible for liver hemangiomas to recur after they have been removed. Therefore, for the treatment of liver hemangiomas, minimally invasive surgery, namely interventional treatment, is mainly chosen in clinical practice, which can achieve better treatment effects. Patients with liver hemangiomas often have a benign tumor, generally without obvious discomfort, but there is a possibility of rupturing and bleeding, or even causing hemorrhagic shock. Therefore, for larger liver hemangiomas, surgical treatment should be administered as soon as possible. Interventional surgery can achieve very good treatment results, but there is still a possibility of recurrence after surgery, so regular follow-up with color Doppler ultrasound is necessary to dynamically observe changes in the condition.

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Written by Li Hu Chen
Imaging Center
51sec home-news-image

Can liver hemangioma be definitively diagnosed by ultrasound?

If there is a hemangioma on the liver, it can generally be diagnosed through an ultrasound of the liver and biliary system. This is because hemangiomas have some characteristic appearances on ultrasound imaging. First, it's essential to understand the structure of the liver hemangioma which can be roughly considered as sponge-like, with a structure similar to a sponge containing many fine structures. When ultrasound is applied, this sponge-like structure will demonstrate strong echogenicity, appearing as a large mass with medium to strong echogenic responses. Thus, it is quite evident on ultrasound and has relatively high specificity, so it can generally be diagnosed through ultrasound. If the appearance is not typical, further examination with an enhanced CT scan can be carried out for diagnosis.

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Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
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How long does it take to recover from minimally invasive surgery for liver hemangioma?

Patients with liver hemangiomas can undergo minimally invasive surgery via peripheral vascular intervention. They generally recover within three to five days after the surgery. Therefore, for patients with larger liver hemangiomas, which could potentially rupture and bleed, surgical treatment is advisable to achieve complete cure. However, for smaller liver hemangiomas without obvious symptoms, no special treatment is needed. Regular follow-up with color ultrasound to monitor any changes in size is sufficient. If surgery is carried out, the recovery time is generally three to five days, so there is no need for excessive concern.

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Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
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Symptoms of malignant liver hemangioma

Thank you. When deterioration occurs in patients with hepatic hemangiomas, the main complication is the rupture of the vascular tumor leading to hemorrhage. This can potentially cause hemorrhagic shock and result in death. Regarding hepatic hemangiomas, they are benign tumors. When they are small in size, they typically do not cause any noticeable discomfort and do not require special treatment; regular follow-up with ultrasound examination to monitor changes in the condition is sufficient. For larger hepatic hemangiomas, there is a potential risk of rupture and bleeding. Therefore, dietary considerations for patients with hepatic hemangiomas should include avoiding spicy and irritating foods, as well as hard-to-digest foods, to reduce the burden on the liver, which is conducive to recovery of the condition.

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Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
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Symptoms of deteriorating hepatic hemangioma

When deterioration occurs in liver blood vessels, it primarily manifests as rupture and bleeding of hepatic hemangiomas, which can lead to hemorrhagic shock, and even cause death. Of course, in the early stages of the disease, patients may only experience discomfort and pain in the upper right abdomen. As the bleeding increases, the pain becomes significant, and clinical symptoms such as decreased blood pressure and increased heart rate may occur. Therefore, it is important to pay close attention to patients with large hepatic hemangiomas and perform surgery as early as possible for a definitive cure. Moreover, postoperative attention is still needed. Patients should avoid injuries, follow a light diet primarily, eat more fresh vegetables and fruits, and reduce the burden on the liver to better facilitate recovery from the condition.