Benign Liver Tumors

A tumor is an abnormal growth of cells or tissues. Some tumors are malignant, or cancerous. Others are benign, or noncancerous.

Cancerous liver tumors can be fatal. Most of the time, cancerous tumors in the liver started in another organ and spread to the liver. This form of liver cancer is called metastatic liver cancer. Cancerous liver tumors that start in the liver are relatively rare in the United States. This form of liver cancer is called primary liver cancer.

Noncancerous, or benign, liver tumors are common. They do not spread to other areas of the body, and they usually do not pose a serious health risk.

Facts at-a-Glance

Benign tumors are significantly less dangerous than malignant tumors. Benign tumors by themselves are not life threatening.
Hemangiomas, the most common type of benign liver tumors occur in 1 to 5% of adults.

Information for the Newly Diagnosed

How are benign liver tumors detected?

In most cases, benign liver tumors are not detected because they cause no symptoms. When they are detected, it is usually because a patient required a medical imaging test, such as an ultrasound, CT test or MRI, for another condition.

What are the types of benign liver tumors?

The three most common types of benign liver tumors are called:

Hemangioma
Focal nodular hyperplasia
Hepatocellular adenoma

What is hemangioma?

Hemangiomas are the most common form of benign liver tumors. They are a mass of abnormal blood vessels. Up to 5 percent of adults in the United States may have small hemangiomas in their liver. Women are more likely than men to develop them.

Usually these benign tumors produce no symptoms and do not need to be treated. In very rare cases, an infant with a large hemangioma may need to have it removed surgically to prevent clotting and heart failure.

What is focal nodular hyperplasia?

Focal nodular hyperplasia is the second most common form of benign liver tumor after hemangiomas. These tumors occur mainly in women between the ages of 20 and 30. Like the other forms of benign liver tumors, they are generally discovered during imaging tests for other conditions.

Sometimes referred to as FNH, these tumors usually do not cause symptoms or require treatment. If they are large, doctors may recommend that they be removed surgically to avoid the risk of rupture, but this is very uncommon.

What is focal hepatocellular adenomas?

Hepatocellular adenomas are less common benign liver tumors. They occur most often in women of childbearing age. They used to be linked to oral contraceptives, when higher doses of estrogen were used.

Since these tumors generally do not cause symptoms, most are never detected. In rare cases, these tumors may rupture and bleed into the abdominal cavity. When doctors discover a large adenoma, they may recommend that it be surgically removed to prevent that possibility.

Hepatocellular adenomas may enlarge in women who take hormone pills, so doctors will often recommend discontinuing birth control pills or postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy to female patients who have this kind of tumor.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

What kind of liver tumor do I have? (Hemangioma, Focal nodular hyperplasia or Hepatocellular adenoma )
Do I need to do further imaging studies to access the size?
Will there be repeat imaging studies to monitor the issue?
Will a biopsy be needed to look at the tissue?
Should the tumors be removed?
(If needed to be removed), what kind of specialist should I follow up with? A surgeon?
Do I need to do other kinds of cancer screenings such as an AFP test (blood test) or a PET scan?
Is it possible for the tumors to be causing discomfort?

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The Progression of Liver Disease

The Healthy Liver

A healthy liver has the amazing ability to grow back, or regenerate when damaged.

Fibrosis

When treated successfully at this stage, there’s a chance your liver can heal itself.

Liver Cancer

Cirrhosis and hepatitis B are leading risk factors for primary liver cancer.

Liver Transplant

Removal of unhealthy liver and replace with a whole or portion of a healthy liver.

There are many different types of liver disease. But no matter what type you have, the damage to your liver is likely to progress in a similar way.

Whether your liver is infected with a virus, injured by chemicals, or under attack from your own immune system, the basic danger is the same – that your liver will become so damaged that it can no longer work to keep you alive.

Cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure are serious conditions that can threaten your life. Once you have reached these stages of liver disease, your treatment options may be very limited.

That’s why it’s important to catch liver disease early, in the inflammation and fibrosis stages. If you are treated successfully at these stages, your liver may have a chance to heal itself and recover.

Talk to your doctor about liver disease. Find out if you are at risk or if you should undergo any tests or vaccinations.

Learn More…