Nina Lah
ZD Slovenj Gradec, Slovenj Gradec, Slovenija

Mojca Glušič
Služba za radiologijo, Pediatrična klinika, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija

Orjana Velikonja
Klinični oddelek za otroško hematologijo in onkologijo, Pediatrična klinika, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija

Jana Lozar Krivec
Klinični oddelek za neonatologijo, Pediatrična klinika, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija

Abstract

Haemangiomas are benign vascular tumours that usually appear in infants. Most often they occur on the skin, but visceral, predominantly liver, haemangiomas, are also possible. During the last decade, due to rapidly increasing knowledge of genetic and histopathological markers, the nomenclature of these lesions has become more standardised, followed by more consistent management and new treatment methods. In the paper, we describe liver haemangiomas, which can be divided into infantile and congenital forms. These can be differentiated by their clinical course, complications and treatment. Knowing the exact diagnosis and the course of the disease are crucial because lesions can rarely cause significant complications that require appropriate treatment. Reports of the effective treatment of liver haemangiomas with propranolol are found in the literature. At the neonatology department of the University Medical Centre Ljubljana, 15 neonates with liver haemangiomas were evaluated during a 10-year-period, four of whom were treated with propranolol. With this treatment, symptom relief was achieved in three of the patients and gradual regression of the haemangioma in all four.

Key words: haemangioma, liver, propranolol, treatment, CEUS