![\"Liver-cancer-saint-johns-cancer-institute\"](\"https:\/\/www.saintjohnscancer.org\/gastrointestinal\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2023\/07\/Liver-cancer-saint-johns-cancer-instittue.jpg\")
Types of Liver Cancer<\/h3>\n
Tumors are abnormal masses of tissue that form when cells begin to reproduce uncontrollably. Both noncancerous (benign) and cancerous (malignant) tumors can develop in the liver.<\/p>\n
Noncancerous liver tumors<\/h4>\n
Noncancerous tumors are common and usually have no symptoms. In fact, if they\u2019re found at all, it\u2019s because the patient has undergone an ultrasound, CT, or MRI scan, revealing the location of the tumor among the health tissues or organ.\u00a0 Generally, benign tumors are not a serious health condition. However, benign tumors can sometimes grow large enough to cause serious problems, which may require medical intervention or preventive treatment.\u00a0 Unlike cancerous growths, benign tumors do not spread to nearby tissues, the lymphatic system, or to distant parts of the body. If they need to be treated, they can be removed successfully with surgery.<\/p>\n
Hemangioma<\/h5>\n
The most common type of benign liver tumors is called hemangiomas, which start in blood vessels. Most hemangiomas of the liver cause no symptoms and do not need treatment. However, some may bleed or become large enough to cause pain and may need to be removed surgically.<\/p>\n
Hepatic adenoma<\/h5>\n
Hepatic adenoma is a benign tumor that starts from the main type of liver cell called hepatocytes. Most do not cause symptoms and do not need treatment. Some eventually do cause problems, such as pain or a mass in the stomach, or blood loss. Because there is a risk that the tumor could rupture, leading to severe blood loss as well as a small risk that it might eventually develop into liver cancer, we may recommend surgery to remove the tumor.<\/p>\n
Focal nodular hyperplasia<\/h5>\n
An estimated five percent of the population develop liver cysts. They are benign growths that contain fluid produced by the cell wall of the cyst. Most cysts do not need therapy, but some can grow and be large enough to cause pain. These can be drained laparoscopically as an outpatient procedure to alleviate symptoms.\n<\/p><\/div>\n Cancerous or malignant liver tumors can either originate in the liver (known as primary liver cancer) or spread to the liver from another cancer elsewhere in the body (metastatic liver cancer). Most cancerous tumors in the liver are metastatic.<\/p>\n Hepatocellular cancer can have different growth patterns:<\/strong><\/p>\n Chronic infection with hepatitis B and C increases the risk of developing this type of cancer. In addition to cirrhosis, other causes include certain chemicals and alcoholism.<\/p>\n Under a microscope, we can distinguish several subtypes of HCC. Most often these subtypes do not affect treatment or the prognosis for survival. However, one of these subtypes, fibrolamellar, is important to recognize. This type is rare, does not affect the entire liver, and make up less than one percent of HCCs diagnosed. Patients with this type are usually younger than age 35 while there is generally a better outlook for this subtype than other forms of HCC.<\/p>\n The bile duct starts in the liver. Smaller tubes that are like small blood vessels drain bile from the cells in the liver into larger and larger branches, ending in a tube referred to as the common bile duct. Bile duct cancer begins when normal cells in the bile duct change and grow uncontrollably forming a mass called a tumor, which can be benign or malignant. About 10 to 20 percent of liver cancers are bile duct cancers. Surgical removal of these tumors offers the best chance for cure.<\/p>\n Angiosarcoma and hemangiosarcoma are both rare cancers that begin in cells lining the blood vessels of the liver. People who have been exposed to vinyl chloride or to thorium dioxide are more likely to develop these cancers. It\u2019s also possible that exposure to arsenic or radium could lead to this type of liver cancer. There is also an inherited condition known as hemochromatosis that can also lead to these types of tumors.<\/p>\n Angiosarcomas and hemangiosarcomas can grow quickly. By the time they\u2019re found, these tumors are often too widespread to be removed surgically. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy may help slow the spread of the disease, but these cancers are usually very hard to treat.<\/p>\n This is a very rare kind of cancer that develops in children, usually in those younger than four years old. The cells of hepatoblastoma are similar to fetal liver cells. About two out of three children with these tumors are treated successfully with surgery and chemotherapy, although the tumors are harder to treat if the cancer has spread outside of the liver.<\/p>\n Most of the time when cancer is found in the liver, it did not start there.\u00a0 Instead, it spread or metastasized from somewhere else in the body, such as the pancreas, colon, stomach, breast, or the lung. These tumors are named and treated based on where they originated. For example, if your cancer started in the lung and spread to the liver it\u2019s still called lung cancer with spread to the liver, not liver cancer, and it is treated as lung cancer. Treating the cancer according to its origin provides the most optimal treatment with increased success.<\/p><\/div>\n","layer_is_content_auto_columns":false,"sidebar_position":"left","widgets":false,"layer_icon":"","layer_icon_position":"left","layer_background_color":"bg-none","layer_id":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"layer_content_sidebar","layer_label":"","layer_headline":"","layer_intro":"","layer_content":" Many patients with primary liver cancer have no symptoms. However, the following are the most common symptoms of a developing liver tumor or hepatoma: The symptoms of a liver hepatoma may resemble other medical conditions or problems. Always consult your surgeon for a diagnosis.<\/p>\n The symptoms of metastatic liver cancer may resemble other medical conditions or problems. Always consult your doctor for a diagnosis.<\/p>\n","layer_is_content_auto_columns":false,"sidebar_position":"right","widgets":false,"layer_icon":"","layer_icon_position":"left","layer_background_color":"bg-gray-l","layer_id":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"layer_content_sidebar","layer_label":"","layer_headline":"","layer_intro":"","layer_content":" Diagnosing liver cancer or metastatic liver cancer may include one more tests. They include blood tests and imaging tests, such as a CT scan, ultrasound, and MRI. It is sometimes necessary to remove a sample of liver tissue for biopsy.<\/p>\n One or more tests may be needed to determine the extent of cancer spread and its stage. When we diagnose liver cancer, the next step is to determine it stage, which indicates how advanced the cancer is and far is has spread. The National Cancer Institute defines the following stages for primary liver cancer:<\/p>\n Cancer is in the liver only, has not spread, and can be removed completely with surgery.<\/p>\n Cancer is in the liver only, has not spread, but cannot be totally removed, usually due to its location near major blood vessels.<\/p>\n Cancer has spread throughout the liver or to other parts of the body.<\/p><\/div>\n","layer_is_content_auto_columns":false,"sidebar_position":"right","widgets":false,"layer_icon":"","layer_icon_position":"left","layer_background_color":"bg-gray-l","layer_id":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"layer_content_sidebar","layer_label":"","layer_headline":"","layer_intro":"","layer_content":" Surgery is a common method to remove the tumor from the liver. The operation to remove the cancer will likely include and a small portion of healthy liver tissue that surrounds the tumor. This is optimal if the tumor site is small, and the remaining part of the liver is in good health and functioning well. <\/p>\n Histotripsy is a new type of treatment that uses focused ultrasound to destroy cancerous liver tumors. It can often eliminate tumors completely in a single treatment session, allowing patients can go home the same day after treatment. Other localized treatments may involve thermal (radiofrequency) ablation or cryoablation (extreme cold).<\/p>\n Radiation therapy (or radiotherapy) is a medical treatment that uses high-powered energy rays such as X-rays or protons to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation therapy might be an option if other treatments aren’t possible or if they haven’t helped. <\/p>\n Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill rapidly growing cells, including cancer cells. Chemotherapy can be administered intravenously (through a vein), in pill form, or both. Advancements in chemotherapy can target specific parts of cancer cells, which provides very predictable results. <\/p>\n Embolization is a procedure that injects substances directly into an artery in the liver to block or reduce the blood flow to a tumor in the liver. <\/p>\n Targeted drug treatments focus on specific abnormalities that are present within cancer cells. By focusing on these abnormalities, targeted drug treatments can block cancer progression and cause cancer cells to die.\n<\/p><\/div>\n Call today to learn more about Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment. Our multi-disciplinary team is ready to support you.<\/p>\n","layer_is_content_auto_columns":false,"sidebar_position":"right","widgets":false,"layer_icon":"","layer_icon_position":"left","layer_background_color":"bg-gray-l","layer_id":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"layer_two_column","layer_label":"","layer_headline":"","layer_intro":"","layer_content_left":" If you have questions regarding Liver Cancer and symptoms, please call today. Click here<\/u><\/a> to request an appointment.<\/p>\n","layer_content_right":"![\"liver-cysts-saint-johns-cancer-institute\"](\"https:\/\/www.saintjohnscancer.org\/gastrointestinal\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2023\/07\/liver-cysts-saint-johns-cancer-institute.jpg\")
Liver cysts<\/h5>\n
Cancerous liver tumors<\/h4>\n
Hepatocellular carcinoma:<\/h5>\n
![\"Hepatocellular](\"https:\/\/www.saintjohnscancer.org\/gastrointestinal\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2023\/07\/Hepatocellular-carcinoma-ultrasound-and-CT-scan.jpg\")
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Bile duct cancer (Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma):<\/h5>\n
Angiosarcoma and hemangiosarcoma<\/h5>\n
Hepatoblastoma<\/h5>\n
Secondary or metastatic liver cancer<\/h5>\n
Symptoms of Liver Cancer<\/h3>\n
\n![\"jaundiced](\"https:\/\/www.saintjohnscancer.org\/gastrointestinal\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2023\/07\/jaundiced-skin-may-be-a-sign-of-liver-cancer.jpg\")
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The following are the most common symptoms of metastatic liver cancer:<\/h4>\n
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Diagnosing Liver Cancer<\/h3>\n
Testing methods<\/h4>\n
\n![\"liver](\"https:\/\/www.saintjohnscancer.org\/gastrointestinal\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2023\/07\/liver-mass-CT-scan.jpg\")
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Liver Cancer Stages<\/h3>\n
Localized resectable (removable and operable)<\/h4>\n
Localized unresectable (partially or fully inoperable)<\/h4>\n
Advanced<\/h4>\n
Liver Cancer Treatment Summary<\/h3>\n
Surgery<\/h4>\n
Localized Treatment (Focused Ultrasound)<\/h4>\n
Radiation Therapy<\/h4>\n
Chemotherapy<\/h4>\n
Embolization<\/h4>\n
Targeted drug therapy<\/h4>\n
Learn more<\/h3>\n
Click here for Liver Cancer Treatment<\/u>.<\/a><\/h4>\n