General Information About Liver Cancer
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is the uncontrolled division of liver cells due to a corrupted DNA structure (usually caused by prolonged inflammation and cirrhosis) and the formation of malignant masses (tumors) that invade surrounding tissues.
Worldwide, the biggest risk factors are Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C virus carriage. Additionally, Liver Cirrhosis developing due to alcohol or obesity (fatty liver), diabetes, and a poisonous substance called 'Aflatoxin' that grows on moldy grains pave the way for cancer.
The liver is a very silent organ, so cancer does not cause symptoms until it grows very large. In advanced stages; pain in the upper right side of the abdomen or radiating to the back, a palpable hard mass, swelling due to fluid accumulation in the abdomen (ascites), loss of appetite, sudden and unexplained weight loss, jaundice (icterus) in the eyes/skin, and white-colored stool.
Tumors are detected when cirrhosis or hepatitis patients are screened with ultrasound every 6 months. The AFP (Alpha-Fetoprotein) level, a liver tumor marker in the blood, is elevated. To see the character of the tumor and whether it has spread to other organs, a Contrast-enhanced Abdominal MRI (Dynamic MRI) or CT is performed. A biopsy is not always required; the MRI image generally confirms the diagnosis.
If the tumor is single, small, and the rest of the liver is healthy, Surgical Resection (cutting out the tumoral part of the liver) is applied.
In tumors not suitable for surgery; procedures like entering the tumor with a needle and burning it with radiofrequency/microwave (Ablation), or entering from the groin like an angiography to directly inject chemotherapy medication into the vessel feeding the tumor and blocking it (TACE - Transarterial Chemoembolization) are performed.
If the tumor has not exceeded certain dimensions but the liver has failed (Cirrhosis), the only and most definitive solution is a Liver Transplant.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
