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LIVER TUMOR

Men's Health, Uncategorized, Women's Health / By

LIVER TUMOR

A liver tumor is the abnormal growth of cells on or in the liver.

  • The liver is the largest internal organ of our body.
  • It aids in metabolism, digestion, immunity, and storage of essential nutrients within the body.
  • The liver is an essential part of the body, without the functions, the tissues in the body are liable to die from insufficient energy and nutrient.
  • The liver is made up of various cell types, therefore, several distinct types of tumor can develop on the liver.
  • These abnormal growths may be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
  • There are several types of benign liver tumor, such as hemangioma, hepatic adenoma, or focal nodular hyperplasia.
  • Hemangiomas are the most common type of benign live tumor and focal nodular hyperplasia is the second most common benign liver tumor
  • A malignant tumor is cancerous and can spread cancer cells all over the body.
  • A malignant (cancerous) tumor may be either primary or secondary.
  • A malignant primary liver tumor is a cancerous tumor that begins in the liver, a malignant secondary liver tumor begins in another part of the body and metastasis or spread to the liver.
  • Most cases of malignant liver tumors are secondary. They are metastases from other tumors such as colon cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer etc.
  • There are different types of malignant primary tumors such as hepatocellular carcinoma, which is the most frequent.
  • Other types of malignant primary liver tumor are rare, and they include cholangiocarcinoma, sarcoma, mixed tumors, and hepatoblastoma.

CAUSES

The exact cause of liver tumor is unknown. However, risk factors that may increase the chance of developing the condition include:

  • Exposure to toxic chemicals such as arsenic
  • The use of oral contraceptive is associated with some benign liver tumor
  • Steroid abuse
  • Alcoholism
  • Cirrhosis
  • Hemochromatosis
  • Poisons produced by molds that grow on improperly stored peanuts and grains (aflatoxins)
  • Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV).
  • Certain inherited liver disease
  • Diabetes can increase the chance of malignant liver tumor
  • Accumulation of fat in the liver (Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease)

SYMPTOMS

There are usually no symptoms in the early stage, once symptoms are present, they may include:

  • Abdominal pain or discomfort usually on the upper right portion of the abdomen
  • Loss of appetite
  • Weight loss
  • Fever
  • Profuse sweating
  • Feeling unwell
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Anemia (pale skin and lips)
  • Jaundice
  • Itchy skin

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

To make a diagnosis, the patients’ medical history and a physical examination are needed. During the physical exam, the doctor will press upon the liver to detect any swelling or solid mass.

A blood test is taken, this may reveal the function of the liver

Imaging tests such as ultrasound, CT scan and MRI may be done

A liver biopsy may be performed. During this procedure, a tissue from the liver is removed for testing in the laboratory.

TREATMENT

Surgery may be used to remove both benign tumor and malignant tumor.

For large malignant tumor or widespread cancer, surgery is not advised

Chemotherapy that involves using medication injected intravenously or taken orally to kill the cancer cell.

Radiation therapy that uses powerful, energy beams such as X-rays to kill the cancer cell.

Immunotherapy also called biological therapy that uses treatments that help the autoimmune system recognize and attack abnormal cells.

Liver transplantation is a rare option