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Hemangiomas and Other Vascular Tumors

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Evaluation and Management of Liver Masses

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Abstract

There are several benign and malignant neoplasms which may arise from the vascular elements of liver parenchyma. These lesions include hemangiomas, epithelioid hemangioendotheliomas, and angiosarcomas. Despite overlapping imaging features, each of these lesions behaves differently and they have vastly different prognoses. Cavernous hemangiomas are extremely common and have a classic imaging appearance, which allows for confident radiologic diagnosis in most cases; however, a minority of lesions demonstrate atypical features and may therefore mimic other processes. In the vast majority of cases, treatment is not indicated. Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma may show a concentric ring or “target” appearance on contrast-enhanced CT/MR and when numerous may be indistinguishable from angiosarcoma except for having slower growth and less frequent extrahepatic disease. Biopsy may be required for diagnosis, and liver transplant is the most effective treatment. Angiosarcomas are variably enhancing, very aggressive tumors, which frequently present with metastatic disease. Treatment options are limited.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    Eric C. Ehman

  2. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    Douglas A. Simonetto

  3. Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    Michael S. Torbenson

Authors
  1. Eric C. Ehman
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  2. Douglas A. Simonetto
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  3. Michael S. Torbenson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eric C. Ehman .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    Lewis R. Roberts

  2. Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Ju Dong Yang

  3. Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    Sudhakar K. Venkatesh

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Ehman, E.C., Simonetto, D.A., Torbenson, M.S. (2020). Hemangiomas and Other Vascular Tumors. In: Roberts, L., Yang, J., Venkatesh, S. (eds) Evaluation and Management of Liver Masses. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-46699-2_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-46699-2_7

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