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Alternative Names Return to top
Primary liver cell carcinoma; Tumor - liver; Liver cancer; Cancer - liverDefinition Return to top
Hepatocellular carcinoma is cancer of the liver.
Causes Return to top
Hepatocellular carcinoma accounts for 80 - 90% of all liver cancers. This type of cancer occurs more often in men than women, usually in people 50 to 60 years old. The disease is more common in parts of Africa and Asia than in North or South America and Europe.
The cause of liver cancer is usually cirrhosis (scarring of the liver). Cirrhosis may be caused by viral hepatitis, primarily hepatitis B and C, alcohol abuse, hemochromatosis, certain autoimmune diseases of the liver, and other diseases that result in chronic inflammation of the liver. The most common cause for cirrhosis in the United States is alcohol abuse.
Symptoms Return to top
Exams and Tests Return to top
Treatment Return to top
Aggressive surgery or liver transplantation may be successful in treating small or slow-growing tumors if they are diagnosed early.
Chemotherapy and radiation treatments are not usually effective but may be used to shrink large tumors so that surgery has a greater chance of success.
Support Groups Return to top
The stress of illness can often be eased by joining a support group with members who share common experiences and problems. See liver disease - support group and cancer - support group.
Outlook (Prognosis) Return to top
The usual outcome is poor, because only 10 - 20% of hepatocellular carcinomas can be removed completely using surgery. If the cancer cannot be completely removed, the disease is usually deadly within 3 to 6 months, although this varies greatly. Survival much longer than this occasionally occurs.
Possible Complications Return to top
When to Contact a Medical Professional Return to top
Call your health care provider if persistent abdominal pain develops, particularly if there has been a history of any liver disease.
Prevention Return to top
Preventing and treating viral hepatitis may help reduce risk. Avoid excessive alcohol consumption. Certain patients may benefit from hemochromatosis screening.
Update Date: 9/11/2006 Updated by: Rita Nanda, M.D., Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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Page last updated: 25 September 2008 |