Monstrous venous retroperitoneal haemangioma. Problems of diagnosis

The venous haemangioma is defined as a benign tumor consisting of veinlike vessels. The preoperative diagnosis and its inherent problems are illustrat ed by a coincidentally diagnosed monstrous haemangioma of the retroperitone al space in a twenty year old patient. With respect to our patient, X-ray, computed tomography and angiography all failed as diagnostic tools. Only th e use of Doppler-sonographic flow signals suggested the presence of an haem angioma. The morphology, prognosis and clinical significance of blood vesse l tumors are manifold. The most important differential diagnoses of venous haemangioma are the cavernous and the capilliary haemangioma. The venous ha emangioma distinguishes itself through the presence of blood vessel walls. Haemangiomas are common benign tumors. They can grow to monstrous proportio ns whilst remaining undetected. Thus the patient is endangered of bleeding to death because of trivial injuries. The therapy of choice consists in tot al surgical excision. In unclear clinical situations with respect to preope rative diagnosis especially amongst young adults, the diagnosis of an heman gioma should be taken into amount.