[Does arterial embolization have a role in the treatment of cavernous hemangioma of the liver in adults?].

Embolization of the hepatic artery for cavernous haemangioma is discussed on the basis of 7 cases (3 giant haemangiomas, 4 medium sized or small), all symptomatic. Therapeutic embolization reduced the tumoral mass in 3 cases but had little effect on the symptoms. There was no complication. Arterial embolization is a relatively non-aggressive method, but it does not suppress the lesion. It should therefore be reserved to symptomatic or complicated cases, where reduction of the mass can be expected to result in functional improvement. Such cases are too exceptional for embolization to be performed routinely in adult patients with cavernous haemangioma of the liver.