[The liver hemangioms: operation or observation].

The treatment results of 178 patients with liver hemangioms were analyzed. 322 liver hemangioms of the average size of 36,5 (4-350) mm were diagnosed in 178 patients. 50 (28%) patients were operated on. The largest operated lesion was 100mm. Basic indications to the surgical treatment were: symptomatic course of the disease (42%), unclear diagnosis (24%) and fast growth of the lesion (16%). The lethality rate was 2% (1 of 50), postoperative complications were registered in 24% (12 of 50). Tumor enucleation was performed in 12 (24%) cases, the liver resection - in 38 (76%). The long-term follow-up (average of 55 months) was achieved in 50%(89 of 178) patients. The were no symptoms of the disease in 88,5% of the operated patients and they disappeared in 84% of the non-operated patients. The majority of the patients with the nonsympomatic course of the disease showed anuy negative dynamics of the process. Thus, in 85,2% there were no hemangiom growth registered, 11,1% demonstrated the enlargement of the lesion on 13-38 mm, and 3,7% showed the smaller diameter of the tumour. The study highlights the seldom necessity of the operative treatment of liver hemangioms: by severe symptoms, unclear diagnosis and the fast tumour growth. The enucleation of the tumor is preferable to the liver resection. The exact diagnosis permits the long observance with the ultrasound control as often as once a year.