Hemangioma on the liver, also referred to as liver hemangioma, hepatic hemangioma and cavernous hemangioma, is a benign tumor that develops on the liver. The tumor consists of irregularly formed blood vessels. MayoClinic.com states liver hemangiomas typically cause no adverse side effects and do not need treatment. If they are large enough, however, the tumor can press against other internal structures, resulting in symptoms that require medical intervention.
Surgical Removal
Liver hemangioma may require a surgical procedure to remove the tumor. According to MayoClinic.com, physicians determine how easily the tumor can be removed prior to suggesting this course of action. During this procedure the surgeon will cut the tumor from the surface of the liver while trying to avoid any uninvolved tissue. Depending on the size and location of the hemangioma, portions of healthy liver may also need to be removed. The Surgery Encyclopedia notes that the liver will still function normally after surgery.
Stopping Blood Flow
Physicians may suggest procedures that stop blood circulation to the liver hemangioma. The surgeon will restrict the amount of blood the tumor receives by tying off the main blood supply or injecting the hemangioma's main artery with a medication to block it. This intervention shrinks the hemangioma but does not injure or decrease the amount of blood flow to the liver.
Liver Transplant
Although rare, patients with large or multiple hemangiomas may require a liver transplant. According to the University of Southern California, a patient needing a donor liver must go through medical testing and be placed on a waiting list. In order to receive a new liver, the patient must meet criteria set up by the United Network for Organ Sharing.
A patient with a donor liver will take immunosuppressant medications for the rest of his life, according to the University of Southern California. These medications keep the body from fighting off or rejecting the new liver.
Radiation Therapy
Patients undergoing radiation therapy will receive high amounts of energy in the form of waves similar to x-rays or gamma rays, according to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America. These increased energy rays shrink the tumor, resulting in a decrease in adverse symptoms. The goal of radiation is to leave healthy tissue unharmed.
