Rapidly involuting congenital haemangioma (RICH)  of the liver.
BACKGROUND
Rapidly involuting congenital haemangioma (RICH) is a benign neoplasm that may occur in many locations in the body. When RICH occurs in the liver, it may be confused with other lesions.


OBJECTIVE
To present a case series from a single institution.


METHODS
Retrospective review of pathological and imaging findings in infants with biopsy-proven hepatic RICH treated at a single hospital.


RESULTS
Four children (2 days to 6 weeks of age) presented between 2002 and 2007 with a solitary hepatic lesion. Needle biopsy excluded the alternative possibility of infantile haemangioma by showing negativity for GLUT1. Serial imaging confirmed rapid involution in each child.


CONCLUSIONS
RICH should be suspected in neonates who present with a solitary liver lesion and normal-for-age serum alpha-fetoprotein. Serial US scans should be used to confirm a progressive shrinkage of the lesion. Corticosteroids and β2-adrenergic antagonists have no proven effect in treating RICH. If the lesion grows, percutaneous needle biopsy is recommended to exclude a malignant tumour and to direct further management. Infants with cardiac failure should be treated medically. Embolization (with or without needle biopsy) should only be performed when this strategy fails.
Department of Radiology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street, London WC1N 3JH, UK. roebud@gosh.nhs.uk
Derek
D
Roebuck
Neil
N
Sebire
Eldon
E
Lehmann
Alex
A
Barnacle
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*