Hepatic cavernous hemangiomas: lack of enlargement over time.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether change in size is a characteristic of cavernous hemangioma of the liver.


METHODS
Twenty-one focal masses in 21 patients were diagnosed as cavernous hemangiomas with imaging-guided percutaneous fine-needle biopsy performed between 2 weeks and 2 months after initial imaging study (computed tomography [CT] or ultrasonography [US]). Follow-up imaging examinations (CT, US, or magnetic resonance imaging plus US) were obtained at 5-84 months in all patients.


RESULTS
The cavernous hemangiomas ranged in size from 1.5 to 13.5 cm. At follow-up imaging, 19 (90%) of 21 lesions had not changed in size; the two remaining lesions increased by 1 and 2 cm over 3 and 10 months, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The size of the majority of cavernous hemangiomas remains stable for periods of follow-up ranging from 5 to 84 months. Growth of these lesions is not characteristic and, when it occurs, should prompt reassessment of the diagnosis.
Mungovan
J A
JA
Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence 02903.
Cronan
J J
JJ
Vacarro
J
J
D005260:Female; D006392:Hemangioma, Cavernous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography