Benign liver tumors in infancy and childhood. Report of 48 cases

This is a clinicopathologic study of 48 patients with benign liver tumors seen during a 32 year period; 2 adenomas, 3 focal nodular hyperplasias, 14 mesenchymal hamartomas, and 29 hemangiomas were reviewed. All patients except those with adenomas were younger than 5 years. Thirty-four patients were symptomatic, 24 of whom were diagnosed by open liver biopsy, whereas 10 with hemangioma had their diagnoses based on clinical and radiologic findings. Death due to tumor occurred in four patients with hemangioma. Infants and children with liver hemangioma and congestive heart failure should receive steroids, digitalis, diuretics, and radiation, alone or in combination. If medical treatment is unsuccessful and the hemangioma is localized to one lobe, resection of the tumor can be performed, but if the lesion is massive, ligation or embolization of the hepatic artery should be considered.