Giant hemangiomas of the liver: a report of 9 resections

Benign tumors of the liver are rare, with an incidence of 0.4-7%. Cavernous hemangiomas represent the most frequent benign solid liver masses, although the giant form (>4cm) is quite uncommon. In our series, in the period 1982-1992, 9 patients underwent resection for giant cavernous hemangioma (diameter between 9 and 21 cm). It concerned 7 women and 2 men, witha mean age of 52.5 years. Five of them were completely asymptomatic, while the others had symptoms related to the intraabdominal mass. Diagnostic inconclusion and the risk for rupture with severe hemorrhage of the larger hemangiomas were the main indications for resection in the asymptomatic patients. transverse upper abdominal laparatomy was performed more frequently. several kinds of hepatic resection were performed: 2 right trisegmentectomies, 2 lateral segmentectomies, 2 left lobectomies, 1 right lobectomy, 1 extended left lobectomy and 1 non anatomical wedge resection. We noted one severe intraoperative hemorrhage, solved by transfusion. The postoperative course was uncomplicated in every case. With a mean follo-up of 48 months (1-60) there was no evidence of recurrence.