Ultrasound diagnosis and prognosis of congenital hepatic hemangioma in fetuses and newborns: analysis of 14 cases
10.3760/cma.j.cn113903-20240514-00350
- VernacularTitle:胎儿及新生儿先天性肝血管瘤的超声诊断及预后：14例分析
- Author:
Xiaoyan WENG
1
;
Yongming XUE
;
Juan JIANG
;
Gang WEN
Author Information
1. 宁波大学附属妇女儿童医院超声科，宁波 315000
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Congenital;
Hepatic hemangioma;
Ultrasound examination;
Prenatal diagnosis;
Prognosis
- From:
Chinese Journal of Perinatal Medicine
2025;28(4):306-312
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the ultrasound characteristics and outcomes of congenital hepatic hemangioma (CHH).Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on 14 cases of CHH diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound and postnatal mother-infant rooming-in ultrasound examination at Women and Children's Hospital Affiliated to Ningbo University from April 2021 to March 2024. Prenatal and postnatal ultrasound findings, clinical manifestations, treatments, and outcomes of these cases were analyzed.Results:Among the 14 cases, the male-to-female ratio was 1∶1; six cases were preterm infants, including two low birth weight infants. Ten cases were diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound, and four with no abnormality in the prenatal ultrasound findings were identified through postnatal abdominal ultrasound. Eleven cases had a single hepatic lesion, and three cases had multiple lesions. Ten cases had lesions in the right lobe of the liver, three had lesions in the left lobe, and one had both lobes involved. One case presented with a giant hepatic hemangioma. The echogenicity of hepatic hemangioma lesions varied, including hyperechoic, hypoechoic, and heterogeneous echopattern. Two cases were complicated by arteriovenous fistulas. All 14 cases underwent regular ultrasound examinations and were followed up to an average of (1.2±0.9) years old, ranging from 42 d after birth to 4 years old. Eight cases received medication, while six cases were treated conservatively. One case developed progressive severe pulmonary hypertension and heart failure after birth, which was unresponsive to medication. The patient received interventional embolization one month after birth and recovered well after the surgery. The latest follow-up ultrasound findings showed that the lesions in seven cases had completely disappeared, among which five cases were solitary lesions in the right lobe of the liver, mostly 10-20 mm in size, with the largest being 33 mm×24 mm, all of which were treated conservatively. One case of single lesion in the right lobe of the liver, measuring 37 mm × 28 mm, was treated with oral propranolol and the lesion disappeared after the age of one. One case had multiple lesions in the left and right lobes of the liver. After intervention, oral propranolol was continued, and the lesions disappeared at the age of 2. And the other seven cases were still under follow-up.Conclusions:Ultrasound has high accuracy and specificity for diagnosing CHH. Close postnatal follow-up and timely management result in good outcomes and prognosis.
