[Arterial embolization in treatment of hepatic cavernous hemangioma]

Clinical and radiologic results of hepatic artery embolization (HAE) were retrospectively analyzed in 32 patients with cavernous hemangioma of the liver. Embolization was the only method of treatment of the hemangioma in 25 of 32 patients. HAE was effective for improvement of symptoms such as abdominal pain, anemia, rapid tumor enlargement, portal or systemic hypertension due to intratumoral arterioportal or arteriovenous fistulas. On the other hand, symptoms of hepatic tumor improved in only two patients but became worse in four of 14 patients with non-severe disease. During one to five years of follow-up, reduction of arterial supply of hemangioma was seen in all the patients, but the tumor size decreased in only 1/3 of them. It is concluded that individual approach to the use of HAE and other treatment modalities should be preferred in patients with hepatic cavernous hemangioma.