Hepatic hemangioendothelioma: prenatal sonographic findings and evolution of the lesion.

We describe a case of hepatic hemangioendothelioma that was first suspected based on prenatal sonographic findings at 19 weeks' menstrual age. At 16 weeks, the patient presented with a markedly elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein level. Serial sonographic examinations revealed that the fetus had cardiomegaly, hepatomegaly with a hepatic mass and dilated intrahepatic vessels, a single umbilical artery, and a placental chorioangioma. Arteriovenous shunting within the hepatic mass was seen using color Doppler and pulsed Doppler sonography. An enlarged artery arising from the abdominal aorta supplying the mass was demonstrated. Postnatal physical examination and radiologic studies supported the diagnosis of hepatic hemangioendothelioma. The evolution in the sonographic appearance of this hepatic lesion in utero over a 17-week period is described. Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.