liver hemangioma - worried?

[Gingernut64]

I had an ultrasound today as my ALT levels have been elevated for the past month.

The radiographer said she wants to send me for a contrast scan because it looks like I have a liver hemangioma just over 2cm in size. I asked if she thinks it’s cancer, she said she obviously can’t for certain rule this out but said not to worry, it’s a routine scan.

I’ve never heard of a liver hemangioma and I’m really worried, especially with the ALT blood results too. I’m 32, F. 14 weeks post partum. Not a big drinker. Diet could be better!

what are the chances this is cancer

[MINTVCX]

"what are the chances this is cancer "I think low because:

1. Your age is low and liver cancer is unlikely in this age.

2. You seem not to have liver cirrhosis (alone high ALT is not a sign of it).

3. According to you ultrasound description it looks like benign change.

Of course to be almost 100% sure you should wait for CT scan to rule it out. I think it is in your case. Simple a liver hemangioma is much more likely than cancer.

[looby24]

Hi! I have had a liver hemangioma for over 10 years. Was 2,5 cm when first found and at the last ultrasound I was told it took up the whole space of one of liver's lobes. One of the small ones I think. Alwasy been told it's nothing to worry about. I think they can tell it's a hemangioma from US scan. In my case it was confirmed anyway in CT scans as part of follow up checks for another condition. Do ask for confirmation that it's a hemangioma and try not to worry yourself unecessarily starting to think about cancer. Hemangiomas are benign.

[Tomciana7]

I recently came across this condition as I have upper right quadrant pain/discomfort and researched it which showed it was most common in women of child bearing age 30 to 45 and mostly benign. I think I may have this but my ultrasound came back fine but pain remains.

[JazC in reply to Tomciana7]

I also have RUQ pain, and when I went for an ultrasound due to the pain, a hemangioma was discovered. I then had a CT scan and an MRI bc I was told small hemangiomas don’t cause pain. This was three years ago and I still have this annoying pain. Just had another ultrasound to check the hemangioma and it has grown slightly. May I ask what your pain feels like?

[Tomciana7 in reply to JazC]

It's a weird pain wouldn't stop you in your tracks comes and goes but just feels like there's something blocked there. It's kinda like a consistent ache . Had it for around 6months before that never had any issues. Nothing came up on my ultrasound except some calcification in my kidneys and a cyst on my left kidney. Doctor didn't even contact me about results so I presume that it's normal ??. I just feel like it's something more I might push for an MRI.

[JazC in reply to Tomciana7]

Thank you. My pain comes and goes too. It feels like I have a pebble stuck between my liver and muscles and it’s below my right bottom rib. It’s not a terrible pain but it’s annoying. I am constantly searching the internet looking for people’s experience with hemangioma pain bc my primary care doctor and gastro insisted the pain wouldn’t be caused by the hemangioma, but they have been unable to find any other source so it makes me wonder….

[Tomciana7 in reply to JazC]

It's so hard to be taken seriously I think. Just worried that later on it could be something bad that I left growing. I may persist and try get an MRI also scared at what they might find if I have one stupidly. Glad I'm not alone.

[JazC in reply to Tomciana7]

I totally understand. My insurance company didn’t want to approve the MRI bc of having a CT scan and an ultrasound prior, but I made my doctor push for one bc the pain wasn’t going away. They didn’t find anything other than the hemangioma.

[Devonviolet]

My haemangioma was found in1997. As it was the first scan I had had. I was told it was like a birth mark on my liver and I probably always had it. They ruled out cancer with a biopsy and have kept an eye on it ever since. In all that time nothing has changed.

[Gingernut64 in reply to Devonviolet]

May I ask why they decided to do a biopsy?

[Devonviolet]

I assume to rule out any chance of cancer. It was the first time I had had raised LFTs and Nodular Regenerative Hyperplasia ( a fairly rare autoimmune condition) was undiagnosed at the time. That can later.

[BritishLiverTrust11 Moderator]

Hello

No one on this forum can diagnose you. Here is the link to information on our website explaining liver disease tests, diagnosis, and screening, which you may find useful

britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

If you are in the UK and would find it useful to talk things over, our nurse-led helpline is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm on 0800 652 7330 (excluding bank holidays)

Best wishes

British Liver Trust