Benign liver tumours

Liver haemangioma

• Liver haemangiomas are very common.
• They are like a strawberry birthmark
• They usually cause no problems.
• You only need treatment if the haemangioma causes symptoms.

Focal nodule hyperplasia

• Focal nodule hyperplasia is a common type of benign tumour.
• It is not a type of cancer and very rarely causes any problems.
• It is more common in women and in people with some other medical conditions.
• It is very rare to need any treatment for focal nodule hyperplasia.
• The safest option is usually to just leave it alone.

Hepatocellular adenoma

• Very rare.
• More common in women.
• Usually harmless.
• Can sometimes cause severe bleeding.
• In rare cases it can change to become cancer.
• Men and women tend to have different types.
• The treatment for men is usually surgery.
• The treatment for women depends on the size of the tumour.

Support for you

It can be worrying to be told that you have a tumour in your liver. Even if it is benign and unlikely to cause any problems.

We offer a range of support for everyone living with a liver condition. This includes information, an online forum and support groups. You can also call out helpline and talk to one of our specialist liver nurses.