What is a hepatic hemangioma? Hepatic hemangioma is a benign tumor of the liver. The cause of hemangioma formation is unknown. Some believe it is due to abnormal development of the vascular structures in the liver, while others believe it is related to estrogen levels. Patients usually have no conscious symptoms. Hepatic hemangiomas are often found incidentally during ultrasound examinations and are variable in size, shape and number, and are often congenital. A hepatic hemangioma is essentially a mass in the liver that is rich in blood. What are the effects of hepatic hemangioma on the body? If the hemangioma is small and does not develop, it is usually not life-threatening and the patient can live peacefully with it for a long time. If the hemangioma is larger (4cm or more), it may cause abdominal discomfort, liver enlargement, loss of appetite and indigestion. Hepatic hemangioma contains fibrous tissue and mechanized thrombus, which can cause swelling of the tumor due to repeated thrombosis and distension of the liver envelope. The greatest danger of hemangioma is that it can rupture due to trauma or strenuous exercise, resulting in fatal intra-abdominal hemorrhage. What should I do if I find a hepatic hemangioma? Hepatic hemangioma is a benign lesion, and there are still no effective drugs for hepatic hemangioma. Therefore, if the hemangioma is <5cm and there is no conscious symptom, there is no need to seek medical advice and no need for medication, but ultrasound review and follow-up every six months is sufficient. If the tumor is >5cm, the patient should go to the hospital and follow the medical advice. What is the traditional treatment method for hemangioma? The traditional treatment for hepatic hemangioma is to undergo surgical resection of the liver lobes. However, due to the large size of the tumor, surgery often causes excessive intraoperative bleeding, many liver tissues removed, long incisions, great trauma to the patient, and slow recovery after surgery. How to treat hemangioma without surgery? The treatment of hepatic hemangioma without surgery is achieved by using a minimally invasive interventional approach. The doctor inserts a very thin catheter into the patient’s tumor vessels and then injects chemotherapeutic drugs and embolic agents into the catheter to necrosis and shrink the tumor. The main advantage is that it is less invasive, quicker recovery, and can be discharged in 3-5 days after surgery, and the treatment can be repeated.