A lump in the liver? Don't panic! Let's talk about Liver Hemangioma in simple terms

Imagine that you have had a liver scan for some other reason. It could be due to a stomach problem, or it could be just a routine check-up. When you get the report, you see that there is a "liver lesion" or "liver lump." When we hear the word "lump," we think, "Oh my God, is this cancer?" Isn't that a big fear? True, everyone gets worried when they hear that word. But don't worry. Because not all lumps in the liver are cancer. In fact, the most common and benign type of lump we are talking about today is the one we are talking about today, `(Liver Hemangioma)`.

Simply put, what is Liver Hemangioma?

Although the name is a bit complicated, the story is quite simple. `Liver Hemangioma` (sometimes called `Hepatic Hemangioma`) is a non- cancerous lump that develops inside your liver. It is made up of a bunch of blood vessels that are tangled together and slightly distorted. Think of it like a tangled ball of string. But it is made up of blood vessels.

Hemangioma tumors like these can develop in other parts of the body, including the brain. Although they can sometimes cause minor problems in those areas, a hemangioma in the liver is very, very rare. The important thing is that these never become cancerous. They usually don't cause any symptoms. For that to happen, the tumor has to get very large.

Why did this happen to me? Is it something to be afraid of?

A question that many people ask is, "Why did I get this?" To be honest, scientists still haven't found a definitive cause for it. Some believe it may be congenital. That means the seeds of this may be in our bodies when we're born.

But don't worry about these things.

Most people only have one lump. It doesn't spread to other parts of the body, and it usually doesn't get any bigger. So most of the time, we can go about our normal lives without worrying about it.

Also, this condition is more common than you might think. It affects about 5% of the population. It is most commonly reported among middle-aged women. Sometimes, small children develop these lumps, but as they grow older, these lumps usually shrink and disappear.

What are the symptoms of a hemangioma?

Most of the time, more than 90% of the time, there are no symptoms. Most of these lumps are very small, usually about 3 centimeters. They are discovered incidentally during a scan done for another reason.

However, rarely, this lump can grow larger than 10 centimeters. We call it ``giant hemangiomas``. It is from such large lumps that symptoms can sometimes appear. The reason for this is that as the lump grows, it starts to press on organs in the abdomen, such as the stomach. Then you can feel things like this.

Are there any complications that may occur, even if they are rare?

Yes, there are some things that can happen very rarely. You don't need to worry about these, but it's good to be aware of them. These only happen to people with very large lumps.

• Pressure on surrounding organs: As the tumor grows, it can press on nearby blood vessels or bile ducts. This can cause conditions such as swelling in the legs (edema), blood clots (thrombosis), or jaundice, which causes the body to turn yellow.
• Bleeding inside the lump: Weak blood vessels inside the lump can cause small amounts of bleeding inside the body.
• Rupture: This is extremely rare . If the liver receives a severe blow, such as in a serious accident, the lump can very rarely rupture and bleed into the body (hemorrhage). This is a medical emergency. If this happens, you should go to a hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) immediately.

Again, don't worry about these things. Your doctor will monitor your condition and take action before a problem occurs.

How do doctors find this?

As mentioned earlier, it is often discovered incidentally, during a scan done for something else. When doctors suspect a hemangioma, they use various types of scans to confirm it.

• Ultrasound Scan: This uses high-frequency sound waves to take pictures of the liver. This is a very simple and painless test. Sometimes a ``Contrast-enhanced ultrasound'', which is done by injecting a dye into the blood vessels, may also be done.
• CT Scan (Computed Tomography): A CT scan is a method of taking cross-sectional images of your body using X-rays, much like cutting a slice of bread. This can also show a lot of detail about the lump.
• MRI Scan (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): This uses a large magnet and radio waves to take very clear, detailed pictures of the liver. This is the best scan to confirm a hemangioma.

How do you know for sure that this is not cancer?

This is the biggest question on everyone's mind. Doctors can distinguish between a hemangioma and cancer in 99% of cases from the above-mentioned scans.

Think about it, cancer cells usually grow rapidly over time and change shape. But a hemangioma usually remains the same for years without any change . The doctor may do a scan every 6 months or once a year to confirm whether there is any change. Also, if it is a cancer that has spread to the liver from somewhere else, that original cancer should also be seen elsewhere in the body. Therefore, it is only through scans that we can come to an accurate conclusion about this.

Does hemangioma need to be treated?

In most cases, the answer is no.

If you have no symptoms and the lump is small, no treatment is needed. Your doctor will just monitor it. That means maybe doing a scan once a year to see if it has changed in size. Most hemangiomas never get bigger or change.

However, if the lump gradually grows larger, or if you develop symptoms, your doctor may refer you for treatment.

• Arterial Embolization: This involves blocking the main blood vessel that supplies blood to the tumor (the hepatic artery). When the blood supply to the tumor is cut off, it stops growing and may even shrink.
• Surgical removal: If the lump is very large, has severe symptoms, or has other complications, surgery may be performed to remove just the lump.

Special points for women: Estrogen hormone and pregnancy

It is believed that the female hormone estrogen has an effect on the prevalence of these lumps in women, and sometimes their size increases. Therefore,

• During pregnancy: During pregnancy, estrogen levels in the body increase. Therefore, the lump in a person with a hemangioma may grow slightly during this time. But it will not become dangerously large within 9 months. However, if you are planning to become pregnant or are already pregnant, it is very important to tell your doctor about this. He or she will monitor you as necessary.
• Hormone therapy: Things like hormone replacement therapy (HRT) taken after menopause can also increase estrogen levels. If you have a hemangioma, be sure to talk to your doctor before starting this type of treatment.

Does food and drink affect this?

No. There is no direct relationship between the food you eat and the development of a hemangioma.

However, your liver is a very important organ in your body. So it's a good idea to think about your overall liver health. By cutting down on foods high in sugar and fat and eating more vegetables and fruits, you can protect your liver from other diseases, such as fatty liver disease.

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