Giant liver hemangioma in three sisters.

We describe a patient, in whom giant liver hemangioma (GLH) was found by ultrasound study in screening for hypertension. Two of her sisters also had GLH. One of them had become symptomatic and the hemangioma was successfully removed. The other sisters were carefully watched. Our patient didn't need any intervention in 4 years of follow-up. The pathogenesis of GLH is still unknown. Recent investigations show a role of the TIE receptor/angiopoietin system in vascular malformations. In literature we only found two other reports about a familial occurrence of liver hemangiomas. A genetic defect in familial GLH has not yet been identified. Copyright 2004 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd