title: Surgical treatment of giant haemangioma of the liver.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The treatment of giant symptomatic haemangioma of the liver is still controversial. This retrospective study reviewed the results of surgical treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight patients with symptomatic giant haemangioma of the liver were treated by liver resection (n = 24) or liver transplantation (n = 4). The median diameter of the haemangiomas was 11 (range 5-20) cm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complications occurred in five of the 24 patients treated by partial liver resection, although all survived and remain alive and well more than 2 years after surgery. In six patients there was residual haemangioma in the liver remnant which did not enlarge during the 2-year follow-up. In four patients the haemangioma was considered irresectable and liver transplantation was performed. One died after a 'two-stage' liver transplantation; the remaining three patients are alive and well, 1, 4 and 9 years after transplantation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Liver resection is the treatment of choice for giant haemangioma of the liver where possible. In selected cases liver transplantation is indicated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Brouwers
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Peeters
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: de Jong
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Haagsma
authors.forename: I J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Klompmaker
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bijleveld
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Zwaveling
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Slooff
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome