Liver hemangioma: Does it cause any symptoms?

What are the symptoms of a liver hemangioma? Can liver hemangiomas be cancerous?

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Answer

A liver hemangioma is a noncancerous (benign) tumor consisting of a dense tangle of widened (dilated) blood vessels in the liver. Liver hemangiomas are the most common type of noncancerous liver tumor.

Most liver hemangiomas cause no symptoms and require no treatment. However, liver hemangiomas may grow large enough to cause pain in the upper right part of the abdomen. In such cases, your doctor may recommend removal of the hemangioma.

Although liver hemangiomas are not associated with liver cancer, they are sometimes difficult to distinguish from liver cancer. In such cases, a biopsy may be required to clarify the diagnosis.

If you are a woman with a liver hemangioma, be sure to discuss this with your doctor if you are thinking of becoming pregnant. Liver hemangiomas may increase in size during pregnancy — which may increase the risk of rupture. However, most women with liver hemangiomas have no problems during pregnancy.