HEPATIC CAVERNOUS HEMANGIOMAS - LACK OF ENLARGEMENT OVER TIME

PURPOSE: To determine whether change in size is a characteristic of cavernous hemangioma of the liver. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-one focal masses in 21 patients were diagnosed as cavernous hemangiomas with imaging-guided percutaneous fine-needle biopsy performed between 2 weeks and 2 months after initial imaging study (computed tomography [CT] or ultrasonography [US]). Follow-up imaging examinations (CT, US, or magnetic resonance imaging plus US) were obtained at 5-84 months in all patients. RESULTS: The cavernous hemangiomas ranged in size from 1.5 to 13.5 cm. At follow-up imaging, 19 (90%) of 21 lesions had not changed in size; the two remaining lesions increased by 1 and 2 cm over 3 and 10 months, respectively. CONCLUSION: The size of the majority of cavernous hemangiomas remains stable for periods of follow-up ranging from 5 to 84 months. Growth of these lesions is not characteristic and, when it occurs, should prompt reassessment of the diagnosis.