title: Recurrent pulmonary embolism due to giant hepatic hamangioma treated with hepatectomy under vascular exclusion.
abstract: Giant hepatic hemangiomas are benign tumors that measure more than 4 cm and are usually asymptomatic. Pulmonary embolism (PE) is an extremely rare manifestation of giant hepatic hemangiomas. We report a case of a 44-year-old woman who suffered of recurrent pulmonary emboli that, after thorough work up, were attributed to thrombi formation inside a giant hepatic hemangioma. A right hepatectomy under vascular exclusion was performed and the hemangioma, measuring 17 cm, was resected. Two years later the patient remains asymptomatic. The report highlights the value of investigating giant liver hemangiomas in case of PE. In such cases, the hemangioma should be resected preferably under occlusion of the venous outflow of the liver to avoid PE intraoperatively.
authors.affiliation: 5th Department of Surgery, Aretaieion Hospital, University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arkadopoulos
authors.forename: Vaia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stafyla
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karapanos
authors.forename: Anneza I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Yiallourou
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koureas
authors.forename: Agathi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kondi-Pafiti
authors.forename: Vassilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Smyrniotis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D011168:Portal System / Q000601:surgery*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome