A hemangioma is a common finding on a liver scan report. It is an abnormal growth inside the liver and can cause a lot of anxiety if you don’t understand what it means. Fortunately, it is almost always a benign, not dangerous condition.

A liver hemangioma is a noncancerous mass that grows in the liver. It is made up of blood vessels that are tangled and is less than 4 cm (1.5 inches) in size. Sometimes liver hemangiomas can be larger than this, or there may be several present in the liver.

The majority of people who have a liver hemangioma are totally unaware of it as they never experience any signs or symptoms. It is usually discovered accidentally during a scan for another problem. You will be pleased to know there is no evidence that an untreated liver hemangioma can lead to liver cancer.

What causes a hemangioma?

In some cases it is congenital, which means that you are born with it. Women who have been pregnant are more likely to have a liver hemangioma than women who have never been pregnant. Menopausal women who have been on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or women who have been on the oral contraceptive pill for several years are more likely to develop a liver hemangioma than women who never used any hormones. It is thought that the hormone estrogen, found in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or the oral contraceptive pill and during pregnancy, plays a role in the development and growth of liver hemangiomas. It can also promote the development of gallstones in susceptible individuals. If a woman with a hemangioma becomes pregnant, the high hormone levels can act as a fertilizer, causing the mass to become overly large and cause symptoms. The most common symptom is discomfort on the right upper part of the abdomen.

Women with estrogen dominance symptoms such as heavy or painful menstrual bleeding, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, tender breasts or lumpy breasts can develop a hemangioma because their body doesn’t break down and excrete estrogen adequately.

What can be done about a hemangioma?

In most individuals the hemangioma will never grow and never cause any medical or health problems. In a very small minority of people, the liver hemangioma will grow and require treatment. It is a good idea to have a bi-annual liver scan to check the hemangioma. If it grows large enough to cause pressure on organs or tissues near your liver it can cause symptoms and may require treatment. People with this condition are best off avoiding oral contraceptive pills that contain estrogen and there are many new estrogen-free alternative contraceptives available today. Also, avoid types of HRT that contain oral estrogens and use creams containing the safe type of estrogen called estriol.

If the hemangioma can be easily separated from the liver, surgery to remove the tumor may be the best solution. In some cases, a portion of the liver along with the hemangioma is removed. There are also procedures to block the flow of blood to the hemangioma. The blood supply may be blocked through the main artery that supplies the hemangioma and this can be done by tying off the artery (artery ligation) or injecting medication into the artery (arterial embolization). Without a blood supply, the hemangioma may stop growing or shrink. The healthy liver tissue is not damaged by these treatments because it can draw blood from other nearby blood vessels.

Make sure you break down and detox hormones efficiently

High levels of hormones are the biggest risk factor for getting a hemangioma, and of it growing to a problematic size. Each day, a woman’s body produces estrogen, and excretes it via the liver and intestines. Once a woman reaches menopause, estrogen production sharply declines, and a hemangioma already present can shrink. If you are prone to constipation, have an inflamed bowel or have unbalanced gut bugs, you are probably not excreting estrogen adequately. From the gut, it can recirculate back to the liver again. This hormone build up can cause health problems, including hemangioma. NAC (n-acetyl cysteine) helps break down biofilm in the gut wall where harmful gut bugs can hide. Livatone Plus contains ingredients that improve the detoxification abilities of the liver; helping it to break down and clear hormones more efficiently.

 

The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.