Chang Gung medical journal
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Case Reports
Infantile hepatic hemangioendothelioma presenting as early heart failure: report of two cases.
Hepatic hemangioendothelioma is rare. We report on hepatic hemangioendotheliomas in 2 young infants, with initial manifestations of respiratory distress and congestive heart failure. Serum alpha-fetoprotein (alphaFP) level was as high as 26,343 microg/l at 14 days old in 1 case, but was only 18 microg/l in the other case. ⋯ Spontaneous regression has been reported. However, without early recognition and therapeutic intervention, progression to decompensated heart failure may lead to death. Furthermore, it is necessary to differentiate infantile hepatic hemangioendothelioma (IHH) from hepatic malignancies.