Spontaneous Rupture of a Hepatic Cavernous Hemangioma: A Rare Case of Sudden Unexpected Death

Cavernous hemangiomas represent the most common benign tumors affecting the liver. They are more often asymptomatic and usually diagnosed through radiological examinations performed for other reasons. When there are symptomatic, they may cause digestive disorders such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or a palpable mass. Sudden death may occur as a result of rupture and bleeding. Spontaneous rupture of cavernous hepatic hemangioma is a rare complication, but the mortality rate is high. We report a rare case of sudden unexpected death of a 46-year-old woman due to a spontaneous rupture of a giant hepatic cavernous hemangioma discovered at autopsy.