Malignant Hepatoma
What
is it?
Malignant hepatoma is a type of primary liver
cancer in which the cancer starts in the liver
itself. It is often associated with cirrhosis and
hepatitis B infections.
Who
gets it?
Primary
liver cancer is relatively rare in the United
States. About 80 to 90 percent of primary liver
cancers are malignant hepatoma, with about five in
every 200,000 people affected by the disease.
Malignant hepatoma is more common among
alcoholics, those with hepatitis B, cirrhosis and
other chronic ailments. The cancer is more likely
to occur in men than women and in people over 40
years of age.
What
causes it?
Doctors
don’t know why malignant hepatoma occurs, but
there are several known risk factors. They include
being over 40 years of age, male sex, having
cirrhosis, and exposure to the hepatitis viruses
(Hepatitis B, C, D and G),
What
are the symptoms?
Symptoms of malignant hepatoma are often similar
to those of liver diseases. They include pain and
swelling, especially in the abdominal area; loss
of appetite and weight; jaundice (yellowing of the
skin and whites of eyes), fatigue and fever. As
the cancer progresses, the patient may experience
pain extending to the back and shoulder. Some
patients develop a collection of fluid, known as
ascites, in the abdomen, while others may show
signs of bleeding into the digestive tract.
How is
it diagnosed?
To
diagnose malignant hepatoma, the doctor may first
check the patient’s medical history for risk
factors and check the patient’s abdomen for lumps.
The liver may also be swollen, hard and sore when
the doctor presses on it. The doctor may order
blood tests to determine liver function or
evaluate risk factors in the patient’s history.
The doctor may also order an ultrasound or CT scan
to detect any liver tumors. A sample of liver
tissue for a biopsy may be needed to confirm
diagnosis of malignant hepatoma. In addition, the
doctor may order chest x rays to see whether the
liver tumor is primary or has spread from a tumor
in the lungs.
What
is the treatment?
Treatment for malignant hepatoma may be based on
the stage of the cancer (early or advanced), the
patient’s age, and other coexisting diseases such
as cirrhosis or hepatitis. For many patients,
treatment of malignant hepatoma is intended to
relieve pain, because often it can’t be cured.
The
doctor may recommend surgery if the cancer is
contained within one lobe of the liver, and if the
patient does not have cirrhosis, jaundice, or
ascites. If the entire visible tumor can be
removed, about 25 percent of patients will be
cured. The operation is called a partial
hepatectomy, or partial removal of the liver. The
doctor will remove either an entire lobe of the
liver (a lobectomy) or cut out the area around the
tumor (a wedge resection). Many patients with
malignant hepatoma, however, are not good surgical
candidates because of large tumor size, diminished
liver function, or cirrhosis.
The
doctor may also recommend chemotherapy or
radiation therapy to destroy cancer cells and slow
the spread of the disease. While the chemotherapy
or radiation may not cure the cancer, they may
temporarily decrease the tumor size and relieve
some of the symptoms, including pain.
Self-care tips
Malignant hepatoma has a poor prognosis because
often the cancer has spread before it can be
diagnosed. The best preventative measures are
changes in lifestyle. The doctor may recommend
avoiding alcohol and drug abuse. Alcohol abuse is
responsible for up to 75 percent of cirrhosis
cases, a major risk factor for eventual
development of primary liver cancer. Hepatitis is
a widespread disease among persons who abuse
intravenous drugs.
This information has been designed as a comprehensive and quick reference
guide written by our health care reviewers. The health information written
by our authors is intended to be a supplement to the care provided by your
physician. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice.
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