EP.TH.74An incidental finding of liver haemangioma on diagnostic laparoscopy for right sided abdominal pain in a young woman

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Cavernous liver haemangiomas or hepatic haemangiomas are the most common benign neoplasm of the liver. They are more common in women with a male to female ratio of 2.5-5.1- likely due to estrogenic influence. They are composed of hepatic endothelial cells and are usually small in size (< 4 cm). They are asymptomatic in most of the cases and incidentally discovered on diagnostic tests. Occasionally haemangiomas can exceed a size of 5 cm where they can cause symptoms such as nonspecific abdominal pain. Their exact aetiology is not well understood; they are thought to be vascular malformations with hormonal or congenital background. Haemangiomas belong to ‘Incidentaloma’ tumours, since they can be found incidentally while investigating for other unrelated pathologies. Although rare, but rupture and hemorrhage of liver hemangiomas can be fatal. Case presentation A 33-year-old woman was presented with abdominal pain which was started in central abdomen and then shifted to right lower abdomen abdomen. No other significant symptoms at presentation or past medical history. On serial physical examination, the patient was more tender at the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. Although her inflammatory markers were normal the decision was made to proceed with diagnostic laparoscopy to rule out acute appendicitis. During laparoscopy normal appendix was found with multiple liver lesions. Appendix was not removed. Postoperatively CT Thorax, Abdomen and Pelvis with contrast and CT Liver Triple Phase was performed which confirmed benign liver haemangioma. The patient recovered well after surgery and was discharged home with no routine surgical follow up.