[Hemangioma of the liver: often an incidental finding]

Hemangioma is the most frequent benign liver tumor with an incidence of 0.4-7.3%. The tumors are typically small, asymptomatic and detected accidentally by ultrasound or CT. Hemangiomas extending a diameter of 2-3 cm can be proved by dynamic contrast CT or scintigraphy with 99-m Tc erythrocytes. Hemangiomas with a diameter less than 2 cm are a diagnostic dilemma. In case of a typical ultrasonic picture (small white tumor) in an asymptomatic patient, a consequent ultrasonic follow-up is indicated. It is yet unclear whether MRI will be an additional diagnostic tool to identify small hemangiomas.