Patient age affects the growth of liver haemangioma

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to report the prevalence of liver haemangioma and describe growth rates by age. Methods A retrospective study of people undergoing a health examination. The collected data included gender, age, presence or absence and size of liver haemangioma. A second database of liver haemangioma patients with a minimum follow up period of 5 years was analysed. The collected data included gender, initial age at diagnosis, follow-up period, initial and final size. Results Patients were divided into four age groups: 20–29 years, 30–39 years, 40–49 years and ≥50 years. Patients in the 20–29 years group had the lowest prevalence of liver haemangioma (1.78%) and the smallest size (1.3 ± 0.7 cm), while 40–49 years group had the highest prevalence (3.94%) and largest size (1.9 ± 1.3 cm). Patients between 30 and 39 years had the greatest increase in haemangioma size (4.0 cm, (3.0, 6.0) cm), while patients of ≥50 years had the least (1.4 cm (0.5, 3.8) cm). The proportion of patients without an increase in haemangioma size increased with age (P = 0.031). Conclusion Age is an important factor affecting the prevalence and growth rate of liver haemangioma.