Ann Liver Transplant.  2023 Nov;3(2):69-72. 10.52604/alt.23.0017.

Liver transplantation for giant hepatic hemangioma: A collective review

• Park CS
• Chung YK

• KMID: 2560925
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.52604/alt.23.0017

Abstract

Giant hepatic hemangiomas (HHs) have been often considered benign, but their huge size and potential complications can make them far from benign in their impact on the lives. Amid the myriad of treatment options available, liver transplantation (LT) has been performed for giant HHs that have serious clinical manifestations. This study reviewed the role of LT as an indication for giant HH. The literature was searched using search terms as follows in all possible combinations: “liver hemangioma”, “giant hemangioma”, “liver transplantation”, and “Kasabach-Merritt syndrome”. A total of 18 studies were finally included in the present analysis, which recruited 19 patients. The mean age of patients was 39.9±8.6 years. The most common reported symptoms were abdominal distention, respiratory distress, upper abdominal pain, excessive bleeding, and coagulopathy. Preoperative laboratory tests showed abnormal liver function in all patients. Nine patients were diagnosed with Kasabach-Merritt syndrome. Fourteen patients received deceased donor LT whereas the remaining 5 patients underwent living donor LT. No intraoperative or postoperative 90-day mortality following LT was documented. All abnormal blood parameters returned to normal within few days postoperatively in all patients. All patients were alive at the time of their documentation. In conclusion, LT is a safe and effective treatment option in the management of symptomatic or complicated giant HH in selected patients.

Keyword

Hemangioma; Liver transplantation; Abdominal distension; Kasabach-Merritt syndrome; Coagulopathy