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Cavernous Hemangioma in the Liver
A cavernous hemangioma seen in ultrasound. This finding is typical but not diagnostic, and further evaluation is appropriate in order to exclude other reasons causing a focal lesion like this.
When ultrasound examinations of the abdominal tract were introduced some 30 years ago, focal lesions like these appeared to be a quite frequent finding. A cavernous hemangioma is the most common benign lesion in the liver, found with a prevalence ov 1 - 4%. The ultrasound examination is almost always made for other reasons, as the hemangioma does not cause any symtoms.
A hemangioma in a CT-scan without contrast
In patients with a malignancy a CFT-scan and a MRI-examination is most often done in order to exclude metastatic lesions. In doubtful cases a fine needle biopsy can be done, although a biopsy is not 100% safe.
 
To the left, a CT-scan in the initial phase of contrast injection. To the right a cavernous hemangioma in a MRI-scan
A follow up - e.g. after four months - is an easy way to exclude more serios diseases. A cavernous hemangioma does not usually change in size or configuration.
  
The finding in a MRI-examination is quite typical
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