SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT OF INFANTILE HEPATIC HILAR HEMANGIOENDOTHELIOMAWITH OBSTRUCTIVE-JAUNDICE AND CONSUMPTION COAGULOPATHY

A 4-month-old boy with benign hemangioma of the porta hepatis is descr ibed. Obstructive jaundice and consumption coagulopathy developed, whi ch were treated by percutaneous transhepatic drainage (PTHD), without resection of the tumor or bypass surgery. Because of tumor regression, the patient has remained free of symptoms even after the PTHD tube wa s removed. Because juvenile hemangioma is a benign tumor and occasiona l spontaneous regression is known to occur (as in our case and other r eports), it is suggested that complete resection or bypass surgery is not necessary for juvenile hemangioendothelioma, even with obstructive jaundice, if bile drainage is adequately maintained. Copyright (C) 19 95 by W.B. Saunders Company.