Procedure
The following treatment options are available:
- Wait, observe and monitor: Benign liver tumors do not always require immediate treatment. This is especially true for smaller tumors. However, you must attend regular check-ups with your doctor, during which he or she will use imaging techniques to see how the liver tumor is behaving. The intervals are longer for smaller tumors and shorter for larger ones.
- Surgery: Surgical intervention is advisable for larger tumors and complaints. In the case of adenomas, doctors often advise surgery in order to avert the risk of degeneration and thus the development of liver cancer. Otherwise, it is possible to have the adenoma checked by ultrasound at short intervals.
There are various surgical methods: Excision of the tumor (enucleation), partial removal of the liver or, in very severe cases, even a liver transplant. In many cases, the operation can be performed minimally invasively (“keyhole surgery”) as part of a laparoscopy. Only a few small incisions are necessary here.
Treatment of benign liver tumors: what you can do yourself
- Discontinue oral contraceptives in consultation with your doctor and switch to another contraceptive method. The tumor then often shrinks again.
- You should also stop taking anabolic steroids, for example for doping purposes. Transsexual people should talk to their doctor about what options are available.
- In the case of large benign tumors in the liver, it is better to avoid sports with intensive physical contact. Handball and football, for example, are often rougher. The force applied to the abdominal cavity can lead to a rupture and cause bleeding. It is better to choose low-injury sports such as cycling, jogging or swimming. Gentle sports such as yoga, tai chi or qigong are also better for the liver.
