Source of blood supply and embolization treatment in cavernous hemangioma and sclerosis of the liver.

AIM

To investigate the source of the blood supply in carvenous hemangioma of liver (CHL), and provide a feasible treatment for CHL via thehepatic artery.

METHODS

(1) Portovenography, hepatic arteriography and portal vein staining were performed in 5 patients to determine the origin of the blood supply. Two casts of hepatic blood vessels from resected specimens were observed. (2) Clinical data from 75 patients (30 males, 45 females, aged 25-57 years, mean of 37.4) were obtained. Of these, 56 were of solitary type (44 on the right lobe, 12 on the left, with 4 having intraparenchyma), and 19 were of multiple type (9 on the right, 2 the left, 8 whole liver). Twenty-two patients were treated with sclerosis, 50 by embolization via hepatic artery, and 3 were excised.

RESULTS

In the 5 cases where portography was used, the contrast medium did not enter the tumor, and the tumor appeared as low density area, with the intrahepatic branches of the portal vein pushed aside. In the 5 cases with where portal vein staining was used, the normal liver parenchyma stained a deep blue; however, the tumor was not stained. The tumor area appeared as a round vacant cavity in the 2 specimen casts. For the 72 patients treated with sclerosis or embolization via hepatic artery or through interventional method, the tumors diminished by 10%-30% in diameter, and no tumors grew larger.

CONCLUSION

The blood supply of CHL originates from the hepatic artery. Tumors treated with sclerosis and embolization decreased in size or got fibrotic.