What complication can happen due to a giant liver hemangioma in children?

A giant liver hemangioma, which is a benign vascular tumor of the liver, can lead to significant complications in children due to the vascular nature of the lesion. One of the most notable complications associated with a giant liver hemangioma is the development of arteriovenous (AV) shunting. In these cases, the high flow of blood through the hemangioma can lead to an increased volume of blood returning to the heart, resulting in multiple physiological changes.

The AV shunting can cause volume overload on the heart, as blood bypasses the capillary beds where resistance usually causes a normal flow pattern. This overload can lead to heart failure, particularly in children whose cardiovascular systems are still developing and may not be able to accommodate the sudden increase in volume. As the heart struggles to manage this overload, symptoms of heart failure such as tachycardia, respiratory distress, and poor weight gain may ensue.

It is important to differentiate this complication from others like hepatic failure or portal hypertension. While these conditions can arise in liver disease contexts, they are less directly associated with the primary pathology of a giant liver hemangioma compared to AV shunting and its sequelae. Similarly, circulatory shock, although a critical condition, is not