Treatment strategies for hepatic hemangioma

  Hepatic hemangioma is the most common benign tumor of the liver, with an incidence of 0.4%-20% and a male to female ratio of about 1:5. Hepatic hemangioma is characterized by insidious onset, slow growth, and mostly no effect on liver function. They mainly include cavernous hemangioma, sclerosing hemangioma and capillary hemangioma, etc. Clinically, cavernous hemangioma is the most common, accounting for about 80% of all patients with hepatic hemangioma.  The most common clinical symptom of hepatic hemangioma is pain and discomfort in the upper abdomen, but hepatic hemangioma is usually asymptomatic when it is small, and patients usually find it during physical examination. When the tumor enlarges, it mainly manifests as hepatomegaly or compression of adjacent organs such as stomach and duodenum, causing symptoms such as upper abdominal discomfort, bloating, belching and abdominal pain. Sometimes, when the tumor is large or located on the surface of the liver, a smooth, soft mass can be palpated on the surface of the liver.  Diagnosis Based on clinical manifestations, abdominal ultrasound, CT, MRI and other examinations, this disease is relatively easy to diagnose.  Treatment 1.For hepatic hemangioma <5cm and asymptomatic, no treatment is needed. Abdominal ultrasound can be reviewed every 3-6 months to dynamically observe its changes.  2.Surgical treatment Surgical resection is the most effective method to treat hepatic hemangioma, including hemangioma debridement and hepatectomy. The indications for surgery are: (1) tumor diameter >10cm; (2) hepatic hemangioma with diameter 5-10cm but located at the liver margin and at risk of traumatic rupture, or hemangioma located in the liver parenchyma with obvious symptoms.  3.Hepatic artery chemoembolization In recent years, with the development of interventional radiology, selective artery embolization has become a new method for treating hepatic hemangioma. It has the advantages of small damage, fast recovery, good efficacy and no serious complications, which is a safe and effective method for treating hepatic hemangioma.  4.Radiofrequency ablation Radiofrequency ablation refers to the application of high-frequency current to generate high heat to cause coagulative necrosis of tumor, which can achieve the effect of radical cure without removing the tumor. With the advantages of minimally invasive, simple, safe and repeatable, it can be used as a means of treating giant hemangioma of the liver under the premise of mastering the indications and operation skills.  5.Other There are some other treatment methods for hepatic hemangioma, such as hemangioma suture ligation and hepatic artery ligation, but they are less used in clinical practice now.  In conclusion, hepatic hemangioma is a benign tumor and usually does not become malignant. For small and asymptomatic hepatic hemangiomas, no treatment is needed and they can be reviewed regularly. There is no definite and effective drug treatment, so surgical resection is the most effective treatment for hepatic hemangioma. Regarding the treatment of hepatic hemangioma, we believe that the decision of whether to operate or not should not be simply based on the size of the tumor, but also requires a comprehensive analysis of the benefits and risks of surgical treatment of hepatic hemangioma, taking into account the clinical symptoms, the growth rate of the tumor, the presence of complications, as well as the patient’s anxiety level and the cost of treatment.