Primary liver cancers are cancers that originate in the liver. The most common is hepatocellular carcinoma (hepatoma). At first, liver cancer usually causes only vague symptoms (such as weight loss, loss of appetite, and fatigue). As a result, the diagnosis is often made late, and the prognosis is usually poor.
(See also Overview of Liver Tumors.)
Other Primary Liver Cancers
Other primary liver cancers are uncommon or rare. For diagnosis, a biopsy is usually needed. Most people with these cancers have a poor prognosis. If the cancer has not spread, it can sometimes be removed. When it can be removed, people may live several years or longer.
Diagnosis of Other Primary Liver Cancers
Physical examination
Blood and imaging tests
Sometimes liver biopsy
A hepatoblastoma is usually suspected when doctors feel a large mass in the upper right part of an infant's abdomen and the infant’s health is deteriorating. Results of blood tests to measure levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and imaging tests may help doctors make the diagnosis. Levels of AFP—a protein normally produced by immature liver cells in fetuses—usually increase when liver cancer is present.
Cholangiocarcinoma in the liver, fibrolamellar carcinoma, hepatoblastoma, and angiosarcoma are diagnosed by liver biopsy (removal of a sample of liver tissue with a needle for examination under a microscope).
Cholangiocarcinoma of the bile ducts outside the liver is usually diagnosed using special x-ray techniques (such as magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography [ERCP] or percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography) or surgery. In two thirds of people with this type of cancer, the cancer has already spread to nearby lymph nodes by the time it is detected.
Treatment of Other Primary Liver Cancers
Surgical removal of cancer
Usually, treatment of these cancers has little effect, and most people die within a few months of when the cancer was detected. However, if the cancer is detected relatively early, it may be surgically removed, offering the hope of long-term survival.
More Information
The following English-language resources may be useful. Please note that THE MANUAL is not responsible for the content of these resources.
American Cancer Society: Provides comprehensive information about liver cancer, including its symptoms, diagnosis, staging, and survival rates.
American Liver Foundation: Hosts community education programs that give an overview of all aspects of liver disease and wellness. Also provides access to support groups, information on finding a physician, and opportunities to participate in clinical trials.
