Hemangioma
Read Your Scan Editorial Team·Last updated
Written from published radiology references and reviewed for plain language. Not written or signed by a physician, and not a diagnosis. How we write these pages →
In plain language
A common, benign cluster of blood vessels in the liver. These are usually harmless and often just noted for completeness.
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Where you'll see this
This wording turns up on Abdominal Ultrasound reports — Ultrasound imaging of the abdomen. An abdominal ultrasound shows the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, kidneys, pancreas, spleen, and major blood vessels using sound waves. Doctors often order it for belly pain, to check the gallbladder or liver, to look into abnormal blood tests, or to follow up a known finding. It is safe, painless, and uses no radiation. The report describes what the images show; your doctor interprets it with your symptoms and other tests.
Questions worth asking your doctor
- What was the reason for this ultrasound, and did it answer that question?
- If gallstones were seen, do they need treatment or just watching?
- Is a finding like fatty liver something I can improve?
- Do any findings need a follow-up scan or a different test?
- Do the results change my current care in any way?
How common is this?
Hepatic hemangiomas are the most common benign liver tumor, found in up to 5-7% of the general population on imaging, and are frequently discovered incidentally on abdominal CT or ultrasound done for unrelated reasons. They consist of a tangle of blood vessels and are not true cancers.
When should I worry?
The vast majority of hemangiomas are completely harmless, cause no symptoms, and never need treatment. Only very large hemangiomas, typically over 5 cm, can occasionally cause discomfort due to their size, and extremely rarely, complications like spontaneous bleeding. Most small hemangiomas can be confidently diagnosed by their imaging appearance alone and need no follow-up.
What happens next
A typical-appearing hemangioma that the radiologist calls characteristic usually needs no further testing and no follow-up imaging. Atypical-appearing lesions or those found in a patient with known cancer may need an additional imaging study (like a dedicated MRI with contrast) to confirm the diagnosis. Treatment is reserved for the rare symptomatic giant hemangioma.
Frequently asked questions
- Is a hemangioma a type of cancer?
- No, a hemangioma is a benign (non-cancerous) growth made up of blood vessels. It has no potential to become cancerous, and the word "tumor" in its medical description simply means a mass, not a malignancy.
- Do I need surgery for a liver hemangioma?
- Almost never. Surgery is only considered for very large, symptomatic hemangiomas, which is quite rare. The overwhelming majority are left completely alone with no treatment or follow-up needed.
- Can a hemangioma grow or change?
- Most hemangiomas stay the same size over time. Very rarely, they can grow slowly, particularly during pregnancy or with estrogen use. Growth alone, if the lesion retains its characteristic appearance, usually doesn't change management.
Other words on the same report
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