Hepatic hemangioendotheliomas and hyperbilirubinemia.

A 3-week-old infant with hyperbilirubinemia and hepatomegaly secondary to hemangioendotheliomas of the liver was presented. Review of the literature produced 18 cases of associated jaundice in 182 infants with hepatic vascular tumors, an incidence of 10%. This disorder should be considered in the differential diagnosis of the infant with hepatomegaly and jaundice, particularly in the presence of gastrointestinal complaints, cutaneous hemangiomas, congestive heart failure, or abdominal bruit. Liver scan should be done in such infants to rule out vascular tumors. Although mortality appears to be high in jaundiced infants with such tumors, currently available therapeutic modalities may be of value in treating these infants.