From the Research
Cavernous hemangiomas in the lungs are rare benign vascular tumors characterized by dilated blood vessels lined with a single layer of endothelial cells, and the most recent evidence suggests that they are often asymptomatic and discovered incidentally on chest imaging 1. These lesions are much less common in the lungs than in the liver or brain. Patients with pulmonary cavernous hemangiomas are often asymptomatic, with the lesions discovered incidentally on chest imaging. When symptoms do occur, they may include:
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Hemoptysis (coughing up blood) Diagnosis typically involves chest CT scans showing well-defined nodules with enhancement patterns characteristic of vascular lesions, though definitive diagnosis often requires histological examination. Management depends on symptoms and size; asymptomatic small lesions may simply be monitored with periodic imaging, while symptomatic or large lesions might require surgical resection, typically through wedge resection or lobectomy. Embolization therapy is sometimes used as an alternative to surgery or as a pre-surgical intervention to reduce bleeding risk. The prognosis is generally excellent as these are benign lesions, though complications can include hemorrhage or compression of surrounding structures. Regular follow-up is recommended even for asymptomatic patients to monitor for any changes in the lesion, as some cases have been reported to grow 1. It's worth noting that the evidence from studies on cavernous sinus hemangiomas, such as the one published in 2022 2, may not be directly applicable to pulmonary cavernous hemangiomas, and therefore, the management and prognosis of these lesions should be based on the most recent and relevant evidence available.