Description A cancerous growth ...
Description
A cancerous growth of cells that can destroy the liver and damage surrounding organs. Liver cancer can arise from liver cells (primary liver cancer) or by spreading from a distant cancer (metastasis). Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common primary liver cancer and it is most frequently develops in patients with liver damage from the liver infections, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. The liver is located in the right upper abdomen and is essential for clearing toxins from the blood and for breaking down nutrients and other chemicals in the blood. If the liver fails death occurs soon after.
Symptoms
Abdominal pain or tenderness, particularly in the right-upper abdomen, enlarged abdomen, easy bruising or bleeding, jaundice (a yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes), itching, confusion.
Tests
Common tests used for diagnosis and treatment
Workup:
A history and physical exam will be performed. Imaging (such as an ultrasound, CT or MRI), a liver biopsy, and blood tests may be recommended to identify the cancer and the severity of the disease.
Tests:
Complete blood count (CBC), Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), CT Scan, Lipase, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Urinalysis (UA), Ultrasound
Other Specific Tests: Liver biopsy, Serum alpha fetoprotein
Specialists:
General Surgery, Gastroenterology, Blood and Cancer Care (hematology and oncology), Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Surgical Oncology
Workup:
A history and physical exam will be performed. Imaging (such as an ultrasound, CT or MRI), a liver biopsy, and blood tests may be recommended to identify the cancer and the severity of the disease.
Tests:
Complete blood count (CBC), Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), CT Scan, Lipase, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Urinalysis (UA), Ultrasound
Other Specific Tests: Liver biopsy, Serum alpha fetoprotein
Specialists:
General Surgery, Gastroenterology, Blood and Cancer Care (hematology and oncology), Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Surgical Oncology
Treatment
Therapy depends on the type of liver cancer and its extent. Surgery or liver transplantation may be successful in treating small or slow-growing tumors if they are diagnosed early. Chemotherapy and radiation treatments are not usually effective but may be given before surgery to increase the chance of complete removal. In some cases, liver transplant, a medication called sorafenib (which interferes with liver cancer cell growth and can prolong survival), and/or medications for pain may be recommended.