Polycythemia and elevated serum erythropoietin associated with a liver haemangioma

Secondary polycythemia is a rare condition, which is usually associated to neoplasia or chronic pulmonary disorders.

A 41-year-old man man with no history of liver disease was admitted for erythrocytosis. The paraclinical investigations revealed an increased erythropoietin level in the serum and a voluminous hepatic tumor but its identification was unclear. A liver resection was performed and the histopathological examination concluded that the tumor was a giant cavernous haemangioma with extensive myxoid changes. After surgical resection of the haemangioma, normal haemoglobin and serum erythropoietin were obtained without any further treatment.

Liver haemangioma must be included in rare cause of secondary polycythemia, and surgical resection of the haemangioma should be considered as the standard to induce complete remission.