Rapidly involuting congenital haemangioma (RICH) of the liver.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Rapidly involuting congenital haemangioma (RICH) is a benign neoplasm that may occur in many locations in the body. When RICH occurs in the liver, it may be confused with other lesions. OBJECTIVE: To present a case series from a single institution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of pathological and imaging findings in infants with biopsy-proven hepatic RICH treated at a single hospital. RESULTS: Four children (2 days to 6 weeks of age) presented between 2002 and 2007 with a solitary hepatic lesion. Needle biopsy excluded the alternative possibility of infantile haemangioma by showing negativity for GLUT1. Serial imaging confirmed rapid involution in each child. CONCLUSION: RICH should be suspected in neonates who present with a solitary liver lesion and normal-for-age serum alpha-fetoprotein. Serial US scans should be used to confirm a progressive shrinkage of the lesion. Corticosteroids and ß2-adrenergic antagonists have no proven effect in treating RICH. If the lesion grows, percutaneous needle biopsy is recommended to exclude a malignant tumour and to direct further management. Infants with cardiac failure should be treated medically. Embolization (with or without needle biopsy) should only be performed when this strategy fails.