[Presenting forms and diagnostic procedures in gigantic hemangioma of the liver]

We present eleven patients diagnosed of giant hepatic hemangioma in the last 20 years. The diagnosis was confirmed in all the cases during laparoscopy or laparotomy. The mean age of the patients was 44.9 +/- 8.99; nine of them were women. Only two of the patients complained of abdominal pain. Five patients showed abnormal liver function tests; the most common finding was increased levels of alkaline phosphatase. We have reviewed the diagnostic tools employed: isotopic study of the liver with 99Tc, and labeled erythrocytes, abdominal ultrasonography, CAT, hepatic arteriography, laparoscopy, laparotomy and liver biopsy. Usually we employed more than one of these diagnostic methods. In the last years there has been a shift to employ less invasive procedures.