We actually found my liver hemangioma when I thought I was having a heart attack. Turns out it was a gall bladder attack so when I was 17 weeks pregnant I had my gall bladder removed. I had my first CT scan on my liver in the Fall of 2010 after my pregnancy was done. At the time my hemangioma was already considered giant and was about 6cm if I remember right. I have had annual CT scans since 2010. My most recent one showed that it was now almost 12cm so grapefruit size. My doctor here referred me to Mayo since mine keeps growing as he said I need to look into liver resection and Mayo was the closest surgeon for liver hemangiomas. My doctor here isn't sure why mine keeps growing. Since we found it in 2010 I have not been on birth control or been pregnant again and they believe hormones from both of those cause it to grow. I guess I'm special as mine is still growing! I wouldn't say its so much painful but I guess I would describe it as a more pressure type pain on my upper right side where your liver is. I'm barely five feet tall so I think there is no room for a grapefruit size mass in me! I know my reason for visiting Mayo could be so much worse but from my internet searching it looks like liver resection is a pretty high level surgery since its a major organ and a long recovery. So I'm a bit nervous about having another surgery, especially a major one. So any input from someone who has been through this would be great.

@phillrachel, I don't know anything at all about the condition that you are describing. I am a volunteer mentor and I was drawn to this conversation when I saw the word "liver". I can assure you that you will be in good care at Mayo Clinic. It is understandable that you fear another surgery. I encourage you to look at the information that Kanaaz sent to you.
As an FYI - I think that the Liver department at Mayo is the absolute best! They performed my liver/kidney transplant in 2009.
Rosemary

@phillrachel I don't know about liver surgery, but I did have 3 basal cell cancers removed from the area above the right side of my lip. Skin grafting was involved. I had it done at Mayo, Rochester as I completely trust them. My husband had a heart attack while we were visiting a friend in Rochester on the eve of the new millennium. I took him to St. Mary's Hospital there and Mayo doctors placed 2 stents. They were so wonderful, and followed him for 15 years after to make sure he was doing well. Also, just before his heart attack, I had a doctor who wanted to remove a tumor on the inside of my left elbow. At the last minute I decided to have Mayo do a second opinion. They did an MRI, and recommended against the surgery since it was a fatty tumor that was intwined with my muscle tissue! I was so impressed with their diagnosis and not wanting to operate. I'm telling you this so you will feel comfortable and confident with Mayo assisting with your liver diagnosis and treatment. Best of luck. You're in good, gentle hands at Mayo. Gailb

Liver hemangioma I was also wondering about this diagnoses. I read both of those articles and either went online but what l want to know if you have coils of veins with shunt s is that the same? Because when l came to the Mayo Clinic the vascular medicine doctor said that when they did my TIP surgery they did it wrong and it's all coiled up and one shunt is open but he didn't know how wide. Then he ordered an ultrasound and the next thing is that l have to come back for a consult with a gastroenterologist so l don't know what that means
So l just want to know if this is the same diagnoses. I know they said sometimes it can be corrected with medicine, surgery or of course a transplant which l am really not worried about that but l just want to have some understanding. And if there is a website of TIP surgery uncessiful surgery.