Prevalence and Characteristics of Liver Hemangiomas

Epidemiological Data

Liver hemangiomas occur in 0.4% to 7.3% of the general population, with a female-to-male ratio of up to 5:1, according to the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases 1
General population prevalence ranges from 0.4% to 8%, making them the most common benign hepatic lesion, as reported by the American College of Radiology 2, 3
At least one benign focal liver lesion is found in up to 15% of patients undergoing imaging, with hemangiomas representing the most frequent of these lesions, as noted by the American College of Radiology 3
Even in patients with known primary malignancy, benign lesions (including hemangiomas) are found in nearly 30% of cases, highlighting their commonality, according to the American College of Radiology 3
The female predominance is striking, with some studies reporting a female-to-male ratio as high as 5:1, though the exact relationship with estrogen remains uncertain, as reported by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the American College of Gastroenterology 1, 2

The high prevalence of hemangiomas has important clinical implications, and while hemangiomas are extremely common, the vast majority are small, asymptomatic, and require no intervention beyond initial diagnostic confirmation, as stated by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the American College of Gastroenterology 1, 2