Surgical treatment for giant liver hemangioma: an expeience on 119 cases

Objective To summarize the experience of surgical treatments for giant liver hemangioma. Methods A retrospective study was made on the clinical data of patients with liver hemangioma larger than 10 cm in diameter, which were divided into two groups (10-<20 cm, 88 cases, ≥20 cm, 31 cases). Data included age and gender, presentation, treatment methods, peri-operative indexes, and complications. Results All patients complained symptoms, the average diameter was (16±7)cm. There were 23, 7, and 17 cases respectively with anemia, thrombocytopenia and hypofibrinogenemia, all were more often seen in ≥20 cm group (P<0.001). Five patients were diagnosed as Kasabach-Merritt syndrome in ≥20 cm group. Patients in≥20 cm group also had greater rates of compression of the porta hepatis (P<0.001). Patients in ≥20 cm group were treated more often by hepatic resections, while enucleations was often done in 10-<20 cm group. The ≥20 cm group had more blood loss (P<0.001) and autologous transfusion (P<0.001), greater rates of blood transfusion (P<0.001). There was no significant difference on morbidity between the two groups (P=0.194). Conclusions For giant liver hemangioma both enucleation and hepatic resection could be completed safely in experienced hands. Key words: Liver neoplasms; Hemangioma; Surgical procedures, operative