Pedunculated hepatic hemangioma: report of two cases

Pedunculated hepatic hemangioma may be confused with pedunculated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in clinical practice because of their similar ultrasonographic pattern. We report two cases of asymptomatic pedunculated hepatic hemangioma. Both patients presented with intraabdominal masses of unknown nature measuring about 5 cm in diameter. Pedunculated HCC was suspected because of a pedicle and ultrasonographic pattern in both patients, positive hepatitis B surface antigen as a risk factor in one patient, and the high prevalence of HCC in Taiwan. Diagnosis was established by computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, radionuclide scintigraphy, and angiography in both patients and confirmed by histopathology of the surgical specimen in one patient. Pedunculated hepatic hemangioma should be included in the differential diagnosis of a mass located in the upper abdomen.