Dr. Lee was born in Shanghai, China, and received his college and medical training in the United States. He is fluent in English and three Chinese dialects. He graduated with chemistry departmental honors from Harvey Mudd College. He was appointed president of AOA society at UCLA School of Medicine. He underwent internal medicine residency and gastroenterology fellowship training at Cedars Sinai Medical Center.
Hepatic hemangiomas are thought to be present in as many as 7% of
healthy people. Hemangiomas are four to six times more common in
women than in men. Female hormones may promote the formation and growth of hemangiomas. Hemangiomas, although referred to as tumors,
are not malignant and do not become cancerous. Hemangiomas are not
unique to the liver and can occur almost anywhere in the body.
What are the symptoms of a hepatic hemangioma?
Hemangiomas usually are small, measuring only a quarter inch in diameter, but they can be several inches in diameter or even larger. The vast majority of hemangiomas of the liver never cause
symptoms or health problems. Most hepatic hemangiomas are discovered
incidentally at the time of testing for unrelated medical problems,
most commonly with ultrasound imaging or CT (computerized tomography)
scanning of the abdomen. Very large hemangiomas can cause symptoms, especially
if they are
positioned near other organs. Pain, nausea, or enlargement of the
liver can occur. Rarely, larger hemangiomas can rupture, causing
severe pain and bleeding into the abdomen that may be severe or even
life threatening.
How is the diagnosis of a hepatic hemangioma made?
When a hemangioma is suspected, the challenge for
the physician is to be sure that it is in fact a hemangioma and not
another type of tumor, particularly a malignant one. With specialized
tests,
however, doctors can reassure patients that the tumor is with little
doubt a hemangioma. Such special testing may include scintigraphy
(using a tiny amount of a
radioactive substance to identify the hemangioma), CT scanning, or
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). In general, a biopsy of
suspected hemangiomas is avoided because of their benign nature and
the potential
risk of bleeding from the biopsy.
What is the treatment for hepatic hemangioma?
The vast majority of hepatic
hemangiomas require no treatment. If a hepatic hemangioma is
large, especially if it is causing symptoms, surgical removal is an
option.
Abdominal pain is pain in the belly and can be acute or chronic. Causes include inflammation, distention of an organ, and loss of the blood supply to an organ. Abdominal pain can reflect a major problem with one of the organs in the abdomen such as the appendix, gallbladder, large and small intestine, pancreas, liver, colon, duodenum, and spleen.
The liver is the largest solid organ in the body, and is actually an gland. The liver has a wide variety of critical functions such as manufacturing proteins and metabolizing fats and carbohydrates. The liver also eliminates harmful biochemical waste products from the body (alcohol, drugs, toxins). The liver secretes bile that aids in digestion. Examples of diseases of the liver include cirrhosis, hepatitis, cancer, and fatty liver. Symptoms of liver disease include bleeding, easy bruising, edema, fatigue, and jaundice.
Pregnancy planning is important to help prevent exposure of the mother and fetus to potentially harmful medications and substances during the early days, and throughout the pregnancy. Nutritional planning, prevention of birth defects, conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and kidney disease need careful monitoring. Gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and pregnancy induced hypertension are conditions that may arise during pregnancy. Immunizations, inherited disorders, exercise, air travel, intercourse, and birth control are important factors to consider when planning a pregnancy.
The liver is the largest solid organ in the body, weighing on average
about 3.5 pounds.
The liver carries out a large number of critical functions, including
manufacture of essential proteins, and metabolism of fats and carbohydrates.
The liver also serves to eliminate harmful biochemical waste products
and detoxify alcohol, certain drugs, and environmental toxins.
The liver forms and secretes bile that contains bile acids to aid in the
digestion and intestinal absorption (taking in) of fats and the fat-soluble
vitamins A, D, E, and K.
Diseases that may affect the liver include hepatitis (inflammation of
the liver), cirrhosis (scarring),
fatty liver, and liver cancer
(hepatocellular carcinoma).
Symptoms of liver disease may include bleeding or
easy bruising,
swelling, fatigue, and
jaundice (yellow color...
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