Liver cancer
85% of liver malignancies are primary hepatocellular carcinoma, originating from hepatocytes, which are cells in the parenchyma of this organ. In most cases, hepatocellular carcinoma develops in the cirrhosis liver, which is the result of chronic inflammation due to type B and C viruses, and it is estimated that B virus infection accounts for 50% of liver cancer cases, and type C virus infection for 25% of this statistic. Other risk factors for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma include alcohol abuse, smoking, improper diet, genetic predisposition such as hemochromatosis, i.e. excessive accumulation of iron in the body, and certain liver diseases, such as Wilson's disease, autoimmune hepatitis, or inflammation intrahepatic bile ducts.
Cancer of the biliary tract
The most common primary biliary neoplasm is gallbladder cancer, which occurs mainly in people over 50 years of age, and adenocarcinoma is the most common histological type of malignant biliary neoplasm. According to the research, chronic cholangitis is indicated as the main cause of bile duct cancer, as follicular stones are found in about 90% of patients with this type of cancer. In addition, factors increasing the risk of developing this type of cancer include chronic inflammation and polyps of the gallbladder, as well as obesity or toxic exogenous factors. Cancer of the bile ducts is one of the poor prognosis neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract because it is diagnosed at an advanced stage due to the fact that
Liver cancer symptoms
The main symptoms of liver cancer are jaundice, weight loss for no apparent reason, general fatigue, nausea, and lower limb swelling. In advanced stages of the disease, patients may develop ascites, pain in the right hypochondrium, a lump under the right costal arch, tarry stools, and grounds-like vomiting, which are a result of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
In patients who have developed tumors of a very large size or diameter, the symptoms also include hypoglycemia, i.e. low blood glucose levels, hypoalbuminemia, i.e. a decrease in the amount of albumin in the blood, and disorders of blood clotting. It is worth remembering that liver cancer, like most cancers, does not have any characteristic symptoms at an early stage,
Diagnosis of liver cancer and metastatic tumors in the liver
Cancer of the liver and bile ducts in the initial stage of the disease does not show any characteristic symptoms. Patients are prompted to visit a liver specialist hospital in Coimbatore by weight loss for no apparent reason, yellowing of skin integuments, enlarged abdominal circumference, persistent swelling of the lower limbs, or a palpable tumor in the right hypochondrium.
Most cases of liver cancer are diagnosed during routine tests, such as an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity, which can visualize the tumor. After the tumor is visualized on the ultrasound image, it becomes necessary for in-depth diagnostics in the form of computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging.
The imaging tests are complemented by analytical tests in which the level of liver enzymes and the concentration of albumin and prothrombin are measured. Good to remember, that in a large number of patients, despite the ongoing neoplastic process in the liver, blood test results may be normal, and their abnormalities are often found only at the time of permanent damage to the liver function.
Additionally, in patients with suspected liver cancer, testing for the presence of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) protein is ordered. Increased levels of this protein may suggest the development of neoplastic disease, and its a very high concentration in most cases indicates the presence of advanced neoplastic disease, as well as the presence of metastases. The next step in diagnostics is tumor biopsy and histopathological diagnosis, which refines the diagnosis in order to start systemic treatment. and their deviation from the norm is often found only at the time of permanent damage to the liver function. Additionally, in patients with suspected liver cancer, testing for the presence of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) protein is ordered. Increased levels of this protein may suggest the development of neoplastic disease, and it is a very high concentration in most cases indicates the presence of advanced neoplastic disease, as well as the presence of metastases.
Surgical treatment of liver cancer and liver metastases
Surgery is the most effective form of fighting primary liver cancer. Unfortunately, only patients in the early stages of the disease, with the preserved function of this organ and in a situation where the tumor has not metastasized yet, are eligible for surgical treatment, which involves tumor excision or liver transplantation. In practice, this means that surgical treatment of liver cancer is possible only in 30% of patients at Coimbatore Best Hospital because only this percentage meets the stringent criteria that allow the procedure to be performed with a high degree of effectiveness.
In the case of metastatic tumors to the liver, approximately 5-10% of patients are eligible for surgical treatment. This is because the detection of liver metastases indicates an advanced stage of the development of the primary disease, and cancer foci in the liver usually coexist with metastases in a different location. In addition, in most cases, a significant part of the liver parenchyma is already involved and its functions are reduced, which means that radical surgical treatment cannot be performed. In the case of patients with metastatic tumors, the scope of treatment also includes the methods of percutaneous ablation as palliative procedures slowing down the tumor in the liver.
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