Liver Cancer

2024/05/30

What is Liver Cancer

Liver cancer refers to cancer cells found in the liver. The cancer cells can either arise in the liver (primary cancer) or are spread from other cancer sites to the liver (secondary cancer). It is one of the most common forms of cancer in the world. The type of liver cancer depends on the type of cells which become cancerous.

There are two main type of primary liver cancer: hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma. The most common form of liver cancer in adults is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) – develop from hepatocytes (the main type of liver cell)
Cholangiocarcinoma develops from the small bile ducts (tubes that carry bile to the gallbladder) within the liver
Hepatoblastoma is very rare type of cancer that develops in children
Angiosarcoma or hemangiosarcoma is a rare cancer that begins in the blood vessels of the liver

Causes of the condition

For most cases, the exact causes are not clear. However, in some cases, the cause is known, e.g. chronic infection with certain hepatitis viruses can cause liver cancer.

Signs & symptoms

Unexplained weight loss
Unexplained fever
Loss of appetite
Upper abdominal pain
Swelling of abdomen
Nausea and vomiting
General weakness and fatigue
Enlarged liver
Yellow discolouration of skin and the whites of eyes (jaundice)
Dark coloured urine and pale coloured stools

Diagnosis and treatment options

Test and diagnosis

Blood test – liver function test (LFT)
Ultrasound scan
CT scan
MRI scan
Removal of a sample of liver tissue for testing (biopsy)

Treatment

The type of treatment will be determined based on the cancer stage, cancer location, and patient’s general health. Surgery is the best treatment for liver cancer. However, surgery will be unlikely if the cancer size is large or has spread to other parts of the body.

There are a number of different types of surgery that can be used to treat liver cancer.

Partial hepatectomy surgery – the partial removal of the liver.
Lobectomy surgery – the removal of a whole lobe of liver.
Liver transplant surgery – the removal of the entire liver and replacing it with another person’s liver.

For partial hepatectomy surgery and lobectomy surgery, the liver will be able to repair itself and can grow back to its original size within a few weeks. However, if the liver is cirrhotic, it cannot grow back. Therefore before the surgery is performed, the liver should be biopsied to determine its conditions.

For more information on our services at the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, click here

Doctors

Liver Cancer

​Test and diagnosis

Treatment

Test and diagnosis