Malignant neoplastic disease of the liver occurring most often as a metastasis from another cancer. Primary liver cancer is common in parts of Africa and Asia, where it is often associated with aflatoxins (toxins produced by certain strains of the fungus Aspergillus), but it is rare in the United States, often associated, when it does occur, with cirrhosis of the liver. Symptoms include loss of appetite, weakness, bloating, jaundice, and enlarged, tender liver and mild upper abdominal discomfort. The lesions often metastasize through the portal and lymphatic systems. Treatment depends on the nature and extent of the neoplasm; it may involve removal of a primary tumor and/or chemotherapy.
Liver cancer is categorized as either primary or secondary. Primary liver cancer, which originates in the liver, is relatively rare in the United States. It is usually associated with a history of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or some other chronic liver disease. Secondary liver cancer, the more common type, is metastatic, meaning that it has spread to the liver from other parts of the body (most commonly from cancer of the breast, lung, or intestinal tract). The symptoms of liver cancer include appetite loss, weight loss, fatigue, weakness, and abdominal discomfort.
Malignancy of the liver that results either from spread from a primary source or from primary tumor of the liver itself. The former is the more frequent cause. Male sex, hepatitis B or C, cirrhosis, and other liver diseases are predisposing factors. The liver is the most common site of metastatic spread of tumors that disseminate through the bloodstream. The prognosis for survival is from a few months to 1 yr.
A malignant growth within the liver characterized by the presence of cancerous cells. This tumor can either be primary, originating directly in the liver, or more frequently, secondary, having spread from other locations, often the stomach, pancreas, or large intestine. Two main types of primary tumors exist: hepatocellular carcinoma, also known as hepatoma, which emerges from liver cells, and cholangiocarcinoma, developing from cells lining the bile ducts. Hepatocellular carcinomas are often associated with hepatitis B infection and cirrhosis.
The prevalent indications of liver cancer encompass reduced appetite, weight loss, fatigue, and occasional upper right abdominal discomfort. In advanced stages, the condition is characterized by jaundice, manifesting as a yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes due to an accumulation of the bile pigment bilirubin, as well as ascites, denoting an excessive buildup of fluid within the abdominal area.
Blood examinations can be employed to evaluate liver functionality, which might be disrupted by cancer. Tumors are frequently identified through methods such as ultrasound scanning, CT scanning, or MRI. Diagnosis can be validated through a liver biopsy, involving the extraction of tissue samples.
Total excision of the tumor along with an adjacent portion of healthy tissue can occasionally lead to the cure of a hepatocellular carcinoma. Alternatively, certain cases can see a deceleration in the advancement of the disease with the aid of anticancer medications. Typically, secondary liver cancer cannot be fully cured, but the employment of anticancer drugs or, in certain scenarios, the elimination of a single metastasis (a secondary cancerous growth) can considerably enhance the prognosis.