Published online Nov 27, 2012. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v4.i11.262
Revised: September 9, 2012
Accepted: November 1, 2012
Published online: November 27, 2012
Most hepatic hemangiomas (HHs) are small, asymptomatic and do not require clinical intervention. Surgical resection is only indicated for symptomatic hemangiomas. We report here cases of recurrent HHs in 2 women of 37 and 40 years old, who initially presented with abdominal pain and mass. Radiological examination of each tumor revealed a solitary tumor of 14 and 20 cm in diameter, respectively. Surgical liver segmental resections were performed in both, and the diagnosis of cavernous hemangioma was confirmed. Both patients had recurrent tumor on subsequent radiological examination 4-5 years after the initial surgery. In the first patient, a 15 cm recurrent hemangioma was resected, but multiple hemangiomas were again detected 8 years later occupying the other hepatic lobe, which was not amendable for resection. In the second patient, a 16 cm hemangioma was seen on radiogram, and because the lesion was not symptomatic, conservative observation was offered. Recurrence after liver resection of giant hemangioma is extremely rare. The pathogenesis of tumor progression and recurrence is unknown, as is the management of these patients with recurrent hemangioma, particularly when it is extensive and unresectable.