Surgical treatment of liver haemangiomas in a third level hospital in south-east Mexico

Abstract

Abstract Background Liver haemangiomas are the most common benign tumours, commonly presented in women and considered giant when their diameter surpasses 4 cm. They are mostly asymptomatic and incidentally found. They manifest with abdominal pain and mass effect. These tumours can be managed by observation, enucleation, resection, and embolisation. Objective To determine the experience in our unit as regards the treatment and post-surgical outcomes of patients with liver haemangiomas. Materials and methods A retrospective study was performed on 14 patients with a histopathological diagnosis of liver haemangioma. An analysis was made using the sociodemographic, tumour-related and surgical related variables, as well as any complications. Results Of the 14 patients analyse, there were 7 males and 7 females, with a median age of 43.43 ± 15.03 years, and a mean tumour size of 6.86 ± 3.5 cm. Eight (51.7%) of the tumours were located in the right lobe, 3 (21.4%) in the left lobe, and 3 (21.4%) in the caudate lobe. Resection was performed in 7 patients (50%), enucleation in 5 patients (35.7%), and biopsy in 2 patients (14.3). No relationship was found between sex, pathology, or tumour location. No morbidity or mortality was found. Conclusions Liver haemangiomas in our unit have similar characteristics to those described in other studies. Surgical treatment in our hospital offers a positive outcome.