Hepatic Hemangioma

NanaBaby, you must contact your MO. I had a hemangioma identified at my first CT. The MO was pretty sure it was benign, but it was followed. Two CTs later it is still the same, so consensus is B9. But your MO has to be orchestrating all the tests. Best wishes sweetie!

@NannaBaby, I don't know if an MRI is the right test for diagnosis of a hemangioma. I suggest calling your doctor with these questions. I also had two spots in my liver show up on an ultrasound. After a couple of inconclusive scans (one CT and one tagged red blood cell scan), it was biopsied and found to be liver metastasis. I'm not suggesting you have mets; unlike yours, all of my scan results describe the areas in my liver as "not typical of hemangioma". Also, unlike you I've never had any symptoms. But I think the only way to find out what's going on there is further tests, and your doctor is the one to ask what kind of test is needed to identify this as a hemangioma or something else.

Tricia -

I just want to give you hope.

My cancer was staged at IIIa following my umx. (See signature below.)

I had a bone scan and CT scan and my liver showed a spot that was suspicious of cavernous hemangioma. I then had an MRI and the results of that were that it was indeed a hemangioma.

It's good that your MO is being so thorough. Praying that your spots are benign.

Hugs.

Diana

NannaBaby, I had multiple hemangioma's prior to BC. Found by accident as I went in for a US to see if i had gall stones. Found out that it was actually the contraceptive pill that caused them. When I stopped the pill 4 years ago....my follow up scans showed that they had decreased and some even disappeared. I have another follow up scan in May and hoping that the chemo may have just made them disappear altogether!

Wishing you the best of luck that these are only hemangioma's.

Let us know how you go. Thinking of you x

Yeh Tricia...good news.



Good luck with chemo on Friday hun

@NannaBaby, of course this isn't "all in your head". If it was, it wouldn't show up on ultrasound!

I'm guessing the reason you can't get an answer from the docs because they don't know yet. I had the same thing with my original breast biopsy--the radiologist gave evasive answers to every question I asked. I think it would have caused less anxiety if she had told me "I can't be certain without the pathologist's report, but I think it is probably cancer" than what she did do. It's maddening! But a coworker of mine who also had breast cancer saw this same radiologist, and her anxiety was reduced when the doctor didn't give any information that wasn't yet known for certain.

I just want to say, hang in there, and please, please don't mix pills and liquor again! That can be very dangerous, as I'm sure you know. Were you able to get scheduled for an MRI as you planned? I hope you can get one and it gives you a definite, and benign, diagnosis on those spots.

Hi, I didn't read all the comments and responses but I did want to say that I am an ultrasound tech and hemangiomas look like hemangiomas on ultrasound. Liver mets look very different. They don't actually show blood flow in them during the ultrasound. But they are composed of tiny blood vessels (that do not show flow in uS). I hope this makes sense. A very small amount of mets might look like a hemangioma but very unlikely.

So if they said it was a hemangioma on the US report then chances are it did NOT demonstrate any flow and it likely is benign (if it actually did show flow then I dont believe it is a hemangioma-- lack of flow is one of the ways we prove it IS a hemangioma and benign).. I just wanted to let you know to maybe ease your mind until other tests can be done. They don't just call any old mass a hemangioma. They have a very specific appearance. I hope this helps the anxiety a little bit. (I wouldn't necessarily even think you'd need another scan to be sure... but definitely for your piece of mind!!). Please let us know once you hear back!

Good luck

Ps- to answer the MRI question above. To actually scan your liver I believe you would be face up. But some liver does show in The breast MRI

hi lynnierich,

I posted today on this old thread hoping to get some information. I have not had an ultrasound yet. The lesion was spotted on my breast mri so it's recommended for me to have an US and or liver mri.

Most likely my surgeon will send me for an US first. If I hear hemangioma I will be happy.

I appreciate all your info and knowledge.

wow, LynnieRich, I was so happy to see this thread pop up with new posts! I m getting a third cat scan today, with hemangioma protocol. Two previous scans said suspicious for liver met, 4.4 cm lesion, and previous ultrasound said it is a hyperechoic area in mid portion, not well demonstrated. Suspicion for a hyperechoic lesion in liver, needs further assessment. Also said there is representing prominent fat at the porta hepatis, suggests ct with hemangioma protocol. I'm kinda scared but trying to keep emotions in check. I'm glad you posted that info, however I'm not sure what my US is saying lol. I had DCIS so the chances of this being a met are slim....I hope

Hi, Unbreakable! My Ct scan came back as most likely hemangioma but they recommend testing again in 6 months to a year to see if it has changed or gotten bigger. I think when you have breast cancer diagnosis,they err on the side of caution. Not a bad thing, as long as your insurance will pay for it! Good luck to you!