American Board of Pathology (ABPath) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Cavernous hemangioma is a benign vascular tumor of the liver, characterized by a mass composed of a tangle of blood vessels. It is the most common benign tumor found in the liver and typically does not cause symptoms or require treatment unless it is large or symptomatic.

The distinguishing feature of cavernous hemangioma is its appearance on imaging studies, where it often presents with a well-defined, hyperechoic mass on ultrasound or a characteristic "central scar" on CT or MRI scans. These imaging characteristics help differentiate it from other liver pathologies, which may present with different signs or lesions.

In contrast, conditions such as hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatitis, and fatty liver disease involve different pathophysiological processes and have distinct imaging and histological features. Hepatocellular carcinoma is a malignant tumor, hepatitis refers to liver inflammation typically caused by infections, and fatty liver disease involves the accumulation of fat in liver cells, which may or may not lead to inflammation or fibrosis. Thus, specifying cavernous hemangioma as the correct answer highlights its unique identity as a benign liver pathology.