Diagnosing Liver Cancer

Liver Cancer Symptoms :
Symptoms of Hepatocellular Carcinomas

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the United States presents late in the course of hepatitis and cirrhosis in some patients and without preceding liver troubles in somewhere between 10 and 50% of patients. The presenting liver cancer symptoms are often vague and may include weight loss, poor appetite, right upper abdominal pain or discomfort, and jaundice (yellow skin and eyes and mucus membranes). The patient may notice nothing more than being overly tired. Bleeding may occur into the abdomen or bile duct, although this is quite unusual. HCC’s may also be found while other testing is done to follow patients along who have hepatitis or cirrhosis.

Symptoms associated with gallbladder cancer and bile duct cancer are quite similar to liver cancer symptoms. Weight loss, jaundice, and right upper abdominal discomfort can occur together or separately. Sometimes gallbladder cancer appears in a patient who otherwise seems to have an uncomplicated episode of gallbladder infection (cholecystits), although this is quite unusual.

To ask about a complete screening for liver cancer symptoms, contact my office today.

Symptoms of cancers metastatic to the liver—meaning cancers which have spread from the place they started to the liver—depend to a large extent on whether cancer has come back at the place where it started to begin with, in other places in addition to the liver, or has spread to the liver only. If the cancer is present in the liver only, then symptoms are frequently similar to those already described with weight loss, right upper abdominal discomfort, jaundice, and loss of appetite heading the list. Most, although not all, cancers that have spread to the liver and that can be addressed with interventional techniques originate within the colon or rectum. The cancer may already have spread to the liver when the cancer of the colorectum becomes apparent. This is called a synchronous liver metastasis. Most cancers first present, however, in the colon or rectum and are treated for their primary malignancy. Then, at some time within the next few years, in patients in whom metastasis occurs, tumor spreads to the liver.

Liver Cancer Symptoms and Neuroendocrine Tumors

Neuroendocrine tumors are unique in that they also may present with liver cancer symptoms related to the secretion of various hormones. Gastrinomas secrete gastrin, which frequently causes ulcers. Insulinomas secrete insulin, which causes low blood sugars. Carcinoid tumors secrete serotonin, which causes flushes and diarrhea. There are other types of neuroendocrine tumors, as well, including VIPomas and glucagonomas. Finally, many of these tumors have the same appearance to the pathologist but do not secrete any hormone at all.

Contact my office if you have questions regarding liver cancer symptoms.