Liver haemangioma

It is thought that around 1 in 20 of us has a haemangioma in our liver. But they are almost always harmless, and most people never have any symptoms.

Also called: hepatic haemangioma.

Liver haemangiomas are the most common type of benign liver tumour. They are not a type of cancer, and it is very rare for them to cause any problems.

Haemangiomas are often found accidentally during a scan or surgery for something else. They can be found at any age but are most common in women between 30 and 50. Many people only have one haemangioma, and they are often very small, less than 4cm across.

The information on this page is for:

Adults and children with liver haemangioma or suspected liver haemangioma.
Family, friends, carers, and healthcare professionals.

This information does not cover infantile hepatic haemangioma (IHH) or congenital hepatic haemangioma (CHH). These are conditions that can be diagnosed in newborn babies or infants. If you are not sure which type of haemangioma your child has always talk to your medical team.

On this page:

Quick Summary

Liver haemangiomas:

Are very common.
About 1 in 20 people are thoughts to have one.
They usually cause no problems.
They only need treatment if the haemangioma causes symptoms.

Find out more about liver haemangiomas using the links below.

What causes liver haemangiomas?

Haemangiomas form when cells that make up our veins grow in the wrong way. They can happen in many parts of the body. Strawberry birthmarks are a type of haemangioma on the skin.

We do not know for sure what causes liver haemangiomas. It is thought that they start to form before birth, when some of the blood vessels do not form properly. Hormones might also be involved in how the haemangioma grows.

What are the symptoms of liver haemangiomas?

Most haemangiomas are small and have no symptoms. Haemangiomas measuring more than 10 cm are more likely to cause symptoms. These are sometimes called ‘‘giant haemangiomas”. Symptoms of large haemangiomas might include:

tummy pain
feeling bloated or full

Most haemangiomas stay the same size. About 4 in 10 will grow very slowly over time. But even if they grow they may never get big enough to cause a problem.

In very rare cases, haemangiomas can cause a condition called Kasabach-Merritt syndrome (KMS). This is a serious condition that can cause problems with bleeding and bruising. Kasabach-Merritt syndrome usually happens in babies and very young children. But most babies and children with liver haemangiomas will not get Kasabach-Merritt syndrome.

Great Ormond Street Hospital has more information about Kasabach-Merritt syndrome.

Tests for liver haemangiomas

Haemangiomas are often found by accident during a scan for something else.

No more tests are needed if:

there are no symptoms, and
the liver is healthy, and
the haemangioma is normal.

If there are liver issues or the haemangioma looks unusual, more tests are needed to confirm the diagnosis.

This could be an MRI scan. An MRI scan does not hurt and should take about half an hour.

Find out more about having an MRI scan.

If someone has another liver condition, doctors might recommend an ultrasound scan. This is called a contrast enhanced ultrasound scan (CEUS). This is like a normal ultrasound scan but with a small injection. The injection will contain lots of very tiny bubbles. It takes about 5 minutes for the bubbles to move around the body. It is important to lie still while this happens. Then the ultrasound scan is done.

Find out more about having an ultrasound scan.

What is the treatment for liver haemangiomas?

Most haemangiomas will never cause any problems. If there are no symptoms, the safest thing is to leave the haemangioma alone.

There is no need to keep coming back for checks on the haemangioma.

In very rare cases, doctors might suggest surgery. This is only needed when the haemangioma is causing severe symptoms.

If surgery might be needed, talk to the doctor for personal advice. You can ask them:

What are the benefits of the surgery?
What are the risks of the surgery?
Are there any alternative options?
What could happen if we do nothing and leave the haemangioma alone?

Living with a liver haemangioma

Liver haemangiomas are almost always harmless. So if the liver is otherwise healthy, life should carry on as normal.

There is no need to eat or avoid any particular foods. You can help to keep the liver healthy by:

eating a healthy, balanced diet

not drinking alcohol, or not drinking more than the recommended limits

There are no supplements or , complementary, alternative, or natural medicines that have been shown to help with haemangiomas.

Find out more about eating, drinking, and keeping active.

Liver haemangioma is a benign condition and will probably never cause a problem. But it can still be worrying to find out it is there. You can find out more about the support we offer below.

Liver haemangioma FAQs

What symptoms can liver haemangioma cause?

It is rare for a liver haemangioma to cause any symptoms. They can sometimes cause tummy pain or feeling bloated or full.

These symptoms can also be caused by a lot of other things too. If you or your child get these symptoms, talk to your GP. They may suggest tests to find out what the cause is.

Find out more about tests for liver disease.

Do liver haemangiomas grow or change in size over time?

For every 10 people with liver haemangioma:

The haemangioma will grow over time in about 4 people.
The haemangioma will not grow in about 6 people.

If the haemangioma does grow, the growth is slow and steady. About 2mm every year.

Even if a haemangioma grows, it does so slowly. It probably won’t ever get big enough to cause a problem.

When should I see a doctor about my haemangioma?

You should speak to a doctor if you or your child have a haemangioma and start to get symptoms. Such as tummy pain or bloating. They will be able to do more tests and may refer you to a specialist.

These symptoms might not be caused by the haemangioma. It is also possible to have another condition at the same time. So it is important to get it checked out.

Can hormones or HRT cause haemangiomas?

More women than men get haemangiomas. So it is thought that female hormones could affect haemangioma growth.

However, in most cases haemangiomas never cause a problem. So you should still be able to use hormonal contraceptives or HRT. But you should get personal advice from a doctor.

What does it mean if my haemangioma is large or a “giant”?

Haemangiomas are sometimes called “giant haemangiomas” if they are bigger than 10cm.

Giant haemangiomas are more likely to cause symptoms. This is because they are bigger and take up more space in the tummy. But if they are not causing any problems then it is still safe to leave them alone.

Are there any dietary or everyday changes that could help with my haemangioma?

There are no specific changes that will affect the haemangioma. But like everyone else it is a good idea to look after your liver.

Find out more about looking after your liver when you have a liver haemangioma.

When should I see a doctor about my haemangioma?

You should speak to a doctor if you or your child have a haemangioma and start to get symptoms. Such as tummy pain or bloating. They will be able to do more tests and may refer you to a specialist.

These symptoms might not be caused by the haemangioma. It is also possible to have another condition at the same time. So it is important to get it checked out.

Do medication warnings like "do not take if you have a liver condition" apply to haemangiomas?

It is safe to take these medicines if all of these things apply:

you have no other liver conditions
you have no symptoms of complications caused by the haemangioma
you have not been told it is a “giant” haemangioma

But if you are unsure about any medicines always talk to your doctor or a pharmacist.

Useful links
Benign liver tumours
Living with a liver condition
How we can help

Support

How Liver UK can help

A diagnosis of liver disease can be worrying, and you may have a lot of questions.

We're here for you and for your family and friends. Whether you have questions or just need someone to listen, we can help.

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This content was last reviewed: August 2023

Our expert reviewers:

We would like to thank everyone who helped with creating and reviewing this page. Including Dr Abid Suddle, King’s College hospital NHS foundation trust, Indra Van Mourik, Retired Consultant Paediatric Hepatologist. And all our patient reviewers.

Find out how we make our patient information.

Everyone’s experience of liver disease will be different. Always talk to your specialist medical team for personal advice.