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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staff
It's not clear what causes a liver hemangioma to form. Doctors believe liver hemangioma is congenital — meaning that you're born with it.
Liver hemangioma usually occurs as a single abnormal collection of blood vessels that is less than 2 inches (5 centimeters) wide. Occasionally liver hemangiomas can be larger or occur in multiples.
In most people, liver hemangioma will never grow and never cause any signs and symptoms. But in a small number of people, liver hemangioma will grow to cause complications and require treatment. It's not clear why this happens.
- Feldman M, et al. Sleisenger & Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2006. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/109849475-3/0/1389/0.html. Accessed Nov. 11, 2008.
- Curry MP, et al. Hepatic hemangioma. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 11, 2008.
- Choi BY, et al. The diagnosis and management of benign hepatic tumors. Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology. 2005;39:401.
- Blonski W, et al. Evaluation of nonmalignant liver masses. Current Gastroenterology Reports. 2006;8:38.
- Liver health tips. American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. http://www.aasld.org/yourliver/Pages/LiverHealthTips.aspx. Accessed Nov. 12, 2008.
