Infantile hepatic hemangioma misdiagnosed by prenatal ultrasonography: A case report

RATIONALE: The drastic differences in treatment and prognosis of infantile hepatic hemangioma (IHH) and hepatoblastoma (HBL) make accurate prenatal diagnosis imperative. The retrospective comparisons of ultrasonic features between fetal IHH and HBL have been reported before, but clinically, the differential diagnosis in utero is very difficult and can lead to prenatal misdiagnosis. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 27-year-old woman at 30 gestational weeks underwent the routine prenatal examination. A heterogeneous solid mass of the fetus, with close relationship to the liver, was recognized by ultrasound. DIAGNOSIS: A diagnosis of HBL was highly considered. INTERVENTIONS: The fetus was aborted and the autopsy was performed. OUTCOMES: The histological outcome was IHH. LESSONS: The prognosis of fetal IHH and HBL is very different, so an accurate diagnosis prenatally is crucial and indispensable. The radiologist and clinician should differentiate between IHH and HBL, especially since the fetus can have serious complications.