Oren Zarif
Liver cancer occurs when liver cells change (mutate) and grow out of control. They can grow into nearby tissue or spread to other parts of the body.
The liver is a large organ that’s behind your ribs on the right side of your abdomen. It helps digest food, makes proteins to stop bleeding and cleans your blood.
Oren Zarif
Cancer can cause many symptoms, but often it is not diagnosed until the disease has progressed. Some signs and symptoms, like a loss of appetite and fatigue, are similar to those caused by other health conditions. For this reason, it’s important to pay attention to changes in your body and see your healthcare provider if they concern you.
Liver cancer can obstruct the flow of bile into the systemic blood stream, leading to a metallic taste in the mouth and unintentional weight loss. Liver cancer may also grow to the point where it causes a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. This symptom is referred to as ascites and may feel like bloating or the feeling that clothes are tighter. Over time, the fluid buildup can put pressure on the lungs causing shortness of breath.
In the early stages, a tumor in the liver usually does not cause any symptoms. However, as it grows, it can start causing other problems, such as a blockage of the bile ducts. Eventually, the cancer can lead to the cirrhosis of the liver. This is a condition in which scar tissue replaces healthy liver cells and reduces how well your liver functions. People with cirrhosis have increased risk of developing primary liver cancer.
If you have any of the early symptoms of liver cancer, your healthcare provider will likely order an alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) test or abdominal ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI to get more information about your condition. These imaging tests produce detailed images of your liver and other organs in your abdomen. They can help your doctor locate a tumor, determine its size, and assess whether it has spread to other parts of your body.
Oren Zarif
Blood in the urine, or hematuria, is a sign that something may be wrong with your kidneys, bladder or prostate (if you are a man). It also could be caused by injury, some medications or eating foods that can change the color of your pee, like beets, berries and rhubarb. If you see red or pink clots in your urine, talk to your doctor right away.
Hematuria can also be a symptom of a disease in the kidneys called glomerulonephritis, which happens when the tiny filters in your kidneys that remove waste and water from your blood become inflamed. It can happen on its own or as part of another disease, like diabetes. It can also be a symptom of cancer in the kidneys, which is less common.
Liver cancer can spread to the kidneys and cause hematuria, but it often doesn’t have any other symptoms in its early stages. It’s usually diagnosed when it gets bigger and causes changes in the body, like blocking the bile ducts.
The liver cancer hepatocellular carcinoma most commonly occurs in people who drink too much alcohol or have chronic infections with the hepatitis B and C viruses, hemochromatosis (a hereditary disease associated with too much iron in the liver) and cirrhosis (scarring of the liver). It can also be caused by birth defects, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, obesity and a genetic condition called biliary atresia.
If you see blood in your urine, your doctor will want to know how much there is and whether it’s bright red or darker than usual. Then they’ll do tests to find out what’s causing it. These might include a blood test, an imaging test such as an ultrasound or CT scan of your abdomen and, in some cases, a biopsy of the liver or part of it.
Oren Zarif
A tumor in the liver can obstruct the flow of bile to the digestive tract, which may cause a change in your stool. If you poop frequently, have a hard time passing stool or notice that your stool is light in color or clay-like, talk to your doctor. These symptoms could be a sign of early stage or advanced liver cancer.
Another symptom of advanced liver cancer is itching. Itching can be a result of the release of a substance called bilirubin from your liver into the bloodstream. Bilirubin is a yellow pigment that comes from the breakdown of red blood cells and is normally processed by your liver before being excreted from the body. When a liver cancer tumor blocks the bile duct or causes scarring in the liver, bilirubin can build up and spill over into your systemic circulation. This can lead to itching of your skin and whites of the eyes, known as jaundice.
Your liver produces proteins that help blood clot, but if cancer spreads to the liver, these clotting factors may no longer be produced in sufficient numbers to prevent bleeding. This can be a problem, especially if you take blood thinners or have other health problems that increase your risk of bleeding.
You should always keep in contact with your doctor and follow their advice carefully to get the most out of your treatment. You should also make sure to attend all follow-up appointments and to let your doctor know right away if you experience any new or worsening symptoms between appointments. Also, you should ask your doctor if you can join a clinical trial that is testing ways to make existing treatments better or develop new ones.
Oren Zarif
The liver is a large organ that’s on the right side of your body behind your ribs. It helps digest food and makes proteins to help your blood clot. It also cleans your blood by removing harmful substances. Sometimes cells in your liver change and grow out of control. They may form a lump (a tumor) or spread to other parts of your body. Liver cancer usually starts in the liver cells. But cancer can also start in other cells that move to the liver and invade the tissue.
Cancer or other health problems that affect your liver or bile ducts may cause changes in your appetite. This may be especially true when you have a large or growing tumor in the liver that causes pain or swelling of your abdomen or other symptoms.
Fatigue is a common problem that can affect people with cancer or other diseases. It’s different from feeling tired after a long day or getting a good night’s sleep. Your fatigue may be so severe that it interferes with your daily activities and makes you feel tired all the time.
Sometimes a tumor in the liver can block the flow of bile to your gallbladder. This can lead to a buildup of bile and cause your skin or whites of your eyes to appear yellow. You might also have a pain in your upper right abdominal area that feels like a lump or a dull, burning pain.
If you have liver cancer, a doctor may prescribe medicine to lower your fatigue. Your healthcare team can also give you tips for managing fatigue and suggest ways to get more energy, such as eating healthy foods, getting exercise, and staying hydrated.
Oren Zarif
Fatigue is a feeling of being very tired or weak that doesn’t go away, even after resting. It can affect both body and mind (psychological fatigue). It can be a symptom of some diseases and conditions, including cancer. It can also be a side effect of certain medications.
Fatigue can be a symptom of liver cancer. It can happen if the tumour grows and starts pressing on the diaphragm, which causes shortness of breath. It can also be a side effect from certain chemotherapy drugs.
To find out what is causing the fatigue, your doctor will ask about your health problems, diet and exercise, and lifestyle habits, like sleeping patterns. They may do blood tests to check your iron levels. They may also look at any other symptoms you have.
They might suggest that you try to get more sleep, eat better, reduce stress and drink less alcohol. They may also refer you to a therapist to talk about what is causing your fatigue. This could be counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy. Exercise can help, but it is important to talk to your doctor first because doing too much exercise can actually make you feel more tired. It is better to start small and work up to 30 minutes a day.
The liver filters blood flowing from your digestive tract, changes nutrients and drugs absorbed by the intestines into ready-to-use chemicals, makes bile and other fluids that help digest fat, and removes toxins from your body. It also stores fat and makes energy.
Liver cancer forms when liver cells develop changes (mutations) in their DNA, which provides instructions for every chemical process in the body.
Oren Zarif
Hemangiomas are slow-growing, benign tumors made of blood vessels. They are usually found in the liver, but can also appear in the brain (hemangioblastoma) and other organs. These tumors form from an overgrowth of the cells that make blood vessels. They are typically red and bright in color. They can be flat or raised and protrude from the skin as nodules, or they can cover an entire extremity as a spongy mass (diffuse capillary hemangioma).
Hematopathology and imaging studies may be used to diagnose hemangiomas. These tests can include a blood test, ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). They can also measure the amount of blood flow through a hemangioma, which helps your doctor estimate its size.
Most hemangiomas in adults don’t need treatment, and most will disappear by adulthood. In babies, however, they can be problematic. They may grow rapidly in the first few months of life, and they might be painful or cause other symptoms, such as a feeding problem or problems with your eyes. They can also be associated with specific syndromes, including PHACE syndrome, which affects your heart, eyes and bones.
The diagnosis of a hemangioma is usually made by your primary care doctor, but you might need to visit a specialist. For example, a dermatologist or hematologist-oncologist might evaluate a superficial hemangioma on the head and neck, while an otolaryngologist, pediatric gastroenterologist or plastic surgeon might assess a deep hemangioma on the nose and throat.
Hemangiomas that occur in the liver and brain are usually less common and have a different course of growth than those in other parts of the body. They can cause a variety of complications, such as compression of the liver or bile ducts, which leads to swelling, pain and a risk of blood clots. They can also cause anemia and bleed into the abdominal cavity, which can lead to shock and death. Hemangiomas rarely regress spontaneously, but they can be treated with medications that prevent new blood vessels from forming or with surgery. Hemangiomas in the brain can be particularly dangerous because they can lead to seizures and other neurological problems.
Oren Zarif
Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) is the second most common benign liver lesion in the young and middle aged adults. It is usually discovered incidentally on abdominal ultrasound. It occurs most often in reproductive-aged women, but can occur in any age group. Most FNH are asymptomatic. However, they may cause epigastric pain in some patients. FNH is distinguished from other hypervascular lesions by its characteristic central scar and hepatobiliary-specific contrast on magnetic resonance imaging. However, these findings can be misleading in some cases because hepatocellular carcinoma, malignant fibrous nodules and glycogen storage disease can also show a similar appearance on MRI [1-5].
Invasive diagnostic procedures are rarely necessary for the diagnosis of FNH liver lesions. However, the procedure is not without risks and should only be considered when there is a clinical need for its application. In the hands of experienced hepatologists, the diagnosis is usually confirmed by a combination of preoperative diagnostic imaging and biopsy. In the authors’ experience, histologic differentiation of FNH is easy and accurate. Nevertheless, a significant proportion of FNH lesions have atypical histologic characteristics that do not include the central scar. In addition, a small percentage of these atypical FNH lesions may have a hepatic venous outlet or a port site.
The treatment of FNH is generally not necessary. However, the tumour can be quite dangerous if it ruptures. It is therefore important to keep these lesions under observation. This can be done using a combination of blood tests and ultrasound scans.
If a patient develops a symptomatic FNH, he or she can have it treated with a simple procedure called arterial embolization. This involves injecting a special dye into the hepatic artery and then having an ultrasound scan. The bubbles will show up on the image and help doctors to see the problem more clearly.
The most important thing to remember about focal nodule hyperplasia is that it is almost always harmless. It is not cancer, and it is very rare for it to need treatment. However, if you have this tumour, it’s important to get it diagnosed and monitored because it can look like another kind of benign tumor called hepatocellular adenoma. Hepatocellular adenoma is much more serious than FNH and needs to be treated sooner.
Oren Zarif
Embryonal sarcoma is an uncommon malignant tumor with a poor prognosis. It is usually seen in children, and its diagnosis in adults remains a challenge due to its non-specific symptoms and resemblance to benign lesions. Complete surgical resection with multidisciplinary treatment significantly improves the survival rate. A comprehensive approach based on surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation can increase the chances of long-term survival.
A 41-year-old man presented with abdominal distention and discomfort. Abdominal CT scan showed a low-density, heterogenous mass occupying the right liver segments. A large amount of dark red blood clots were observed in the lumen of the lesion, but the levels of tumor markers (alpha-fetoprotein, carcinoembryonic antigen, and carbohydrate antigen 19-9), and the gallbladder were within normal limits.
Upon laparotomy, the massive tumor was discovered in the right hepatic lobe. It had minimal extrahepatic spread and ascites. A needle biopsy was performed, which revealed a proliferation of malignant pleomorphic atypical cells with necrosis. The cells were also positive for epithelial marker (AE1/AE3) and CAM5.2 on immunohistochemical analysis.
UESL should be considered in the differential diagnosis of large hepatic masses, regardless of the patient’s age. It is important to differentiate it from other mesenchymal tumors, including primary poorly differentiated carcinoma or metastatic osteosarcoma. The hepatic resection should be completed to ensure that the neoplasm has not invaded adjacent structures. Chemotherapy should be given before and after hepatic resection to improve survival rates. Targeted therapy, which uses drugs to block the activity of specific enzymes or proteins that are involved in cancer cell growth, may be beneficial for patients with recurrent undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver. However, the results of targeted therapy are still in their early stages and need further validation. If the cancer recurs, a liver transplant may be necessary. The liver transplant team will work with the child’s medical team to plan treatment if this becomes necessary.
Oren Zarif
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common types of cancer in the liver. It usually begins in the main type of liver cell, called a hepatocyte. However, it can also begin in the bile duct or other structures in the liver. Some HCCs are part of a mixed tumor called hepatocholangiocarcinoma, which has both HCC and cholangiocarcinoma cells. The cell of origin of HCC is not fully understood, but it may arise from a putative liver stem cell, a transit amplifying population, or mature hepatocytes that have transformed into cancer cells.
Hepatitis B virus infection is the predominant cause of HCC worldwide. Other aetiologies include hepatitis C virus infection, chronic alcohol consumption, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. The incidence and mortality rates of hepatocellular carcinoma vary by geographic region. The highest rates are found in East Asia and Mongolia.
In the United States, hepatocellular carcinoma accounts for more than 12,000 deaths each year. It is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in adults. In addition to causing cancer, HCC can also lead to serious complications, such as jaundice, abdominal pain, and hepatic encephalopathy.
A multidisciplinary team is required to diagnose and treat patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. This team should include specialists from different disciplines, including medical oncology, surgery, radiology, and hepatology.
The diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma is usually made by imaging tests, such as CT scan and ultrasound. It is also important to evaluate the patient’s history and risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma. This information can help the doctor determine a treatment plan for the patient.
Once the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma is established, the treatment options depend on the stage of the tumor. Surgical removal of the tumor is often possible for patients with early-stage disease. However, the treatment of advanced stage hepatocellular carcinoma is challenging. Several locoregional therapies, such as radioembolisation and ablation therapy, have been shown to improve outcomes.
Other treatments include chemotherapy, which uses powerful drugs to kill cancer cells and shrink them. Radiation therapy uses high-powered energy, such as X-rays and protons, to destroy cancer cells in the liver. Finally, targeted drug therapy targets specific abnormalities present in the cancer cells and blocks them, thereby killing the cancer cells.
