Key Points for This Section

Liver cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the liver. Liver cancer is not common in the United States.

Liver cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the liver.

The liver is one of the largest organs in the body. It has four lobes and fills the upper right side of the abdomen inside the rib cage. The liver has many important functions, including:

• Filtering harmful substances from the blood so they can be passed from the body in stools and urine.
• Making bile to help digest fats from food.
• Storing glycogen (sugar), which the body uses for energy.

Liver cancer is not common in the United States.

Liver cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the world, but is uncommon in the United States. In the United States, men, especially Chinese American men, have an increased risk of developing liver cancer. People are usually older than 40 years when they develop this cancer.

Finding and treating liver cancer early may prevent death from liver cancer. There is no routine effective screening test for liver cancer. See the PDQ summary on Liver (Hepatocellular) Cancer Screening for more information.

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