Successful liver resection in a giant hemangioma with intestinal obstruction after embolization

Core Tip

Core tip: Hepatic hemangiomas are the most common benign tumor of the liver. Most hepatic hemangiomas remain asymptomatic and require no treatment; giant hepatic hemangiomas with established complications, diagnostic uncertainty and incapacitating symptom, however, are generally considered an absolute indication for surgical resection. We present a case of a giant hemangioma with intestinal obstruction following transcatheter arterial embolization, by which the volume of the hemangioma was significantly reduced, and it was completely resected by a left hepatectomy. Our experience indicates the effectiveness of pre-operative arterial embolization to reduce tumor size, and the importance of a close follow-up to decide when to perform the surgery.