BACKGROUND: Four different sizes (4, 5, 8 and 10 cm in diameter) can be found in the literature to categorize a liver hemangioma as giant. The present review aims to clarify the appropriateness of the size category...BACKGROUND: Four different sizes (4, 5, 8 and 10 cm in diameter) can be found in the literature to categorize a liver hemangioma as giant. The present review aims to clarify the appropriateness of the size category "giant" for liver heman- gioma. DATA SOURCES: We reviewed the reports on the categoriza- tion of hemangioma published between 1970 and 2014. The number of hemangiomas, size criteria, mean and range of hemangioma sizes, and number of asymptomatic and symp- tomatic patients were investigated in patients aged over 18 years. Liver hemangiomas were divided into four groups: 〈5.0 cm, 5.0-9.9 cm, 10.0-14.9 cm and 〉15.0 cm in diameter. Inclu- sion criteria were noted in 34 articles involving 1972 (43.0%) hemangiomas (〉4.0 cm). RESULTS: The patients were divided into the following groups: 154 patients (30.0%) with hemangiomas less than 5.0 cm in diameter (small), 182 (35.5%) between 5.0 cm and 9.9 cm (large), 75 (14.6%) between 10.0 and 14.9 cm (giant), and 102 (19.9%) more than 15.0 cm (enormous). There were 786 (39.9%) asymptomatic patients and 791 (40.1%) symptomatic patients. Indications for surgery related to symptoms were reported in only 75 (3.8%) patients. Operations including 137 non-anatomical resection (12.9%) and 469 enudeation (44.1%) were undearly related to size and symptoms.CONCLUSIONS: The term "giant" seems to be justified for liver hemangiomas with a diameter of 10 cm. Hemangiomas categorized as "giant" are not indicated for surgery. Surgery should be performed only when other symptoms are apparent.展开更多
文摘BACKGROUND: Four different sizes (4, 5, 8 and 10 cm in diameter) can be found in the literature to categorize a liver hemangioma as giant. The present review aims to clarify the appropriateness of the size category "giant" for liver heman- gioma. DATA SOURCES: We reviewed the reports on the categoriza- tion of hemangioma published between 1970 and 2014. The number of hemangiomas, size criteria, mean and range of hemangioma sizes, and number of asymptomatic and symp- tomatic patients were investigated in patients aged over 18 years. Liver hemangiomas were divided into four groups: 〈5.0 cm, 5.0-9.9 cm, 10.0-14.9 cm and 〉15.0 cm in diameter. Inclu- sion criteria were noted in 34 articles involving 1972 (43.0%) hemangiomas (〉4.0 cm). RESULTS: The patients were divided into the following groups: 154 patients (30.0%) with hemangiomas less than 5.0 cm in diameter (small), 182 (35.5%) between 5.0 cm and 9.9 cm (large), 75 (14.6%) between 10.0 and 14.9 cm (giant), and 102 (19.9%) more than 15.0 cm (enormous). There were 786 (39.9%) asymptomatic patients and 791 (40.1%) symptomatic patients. Indications for surgery related to symptoms were reported in only 75 (3.8%) patients. Operations including 137 non-anatomical resection (12.9%) and 469 enudeation (44.1%) were undearly related to size and symptoms.CONCLUSIONS: The term "giant" seems to be justified for liver hemangiomas with a diameter of 10 cm. Hemangiomas categorized as "giant" are not indicated for surgery. Surgery should be performed only when other symptoms are apparent.