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Diagnosis
If you have symptoms that suggest liver cancer,
your doctor will try to find out what's causing the
problems.
You may have one or more of the following tests:
- Physical exam: Your doctor feels your abdomen to
check the liver, spleen, and other nearby organs for
any lumps or changes in their shape or size. Your
doctor also checks for ascites, an abnormal buildup
of fluid in the abdomen. Also, your skin and eyes
may be checked for signs of jaundice.
- Blood tests: Many blood tests may be used to check
for liver problems. One blood test detects alpha-fetoprotein
(AFP). High AFP levels could be a sign
of liver cancer. Other blood tests can show how well
the liver is working.
- CT scan: An x-ray machine linked to a computer
takes a series of detailed pictures of your liver and
other organs and blood vessels in your abdomen.
You may receive an injection of contrast material so
that your liver shows up clearly in the pictures. On
the CT scan, your doctor may see tumors in the liver
or elsewhere in the abdomen.
- MRI: A large machine with a strong magnet linked
to a computer is used to make detailed pictures of
areas inside your body. Sometimes contrast material
makes abnormal areas show up more clearly on the
picture.
- Ultrasound test: The ultrasound device uses sound
waves that can't be heard by humans. The sound
waves produce a pattern of echoes as they bounce
off internal organs. The echoes create a picture
(sonogram) of your liver and other organs in the
abdomen. Tumors may produce echoes that are
different from the echoes made by healthy tissues.
A biopsy usually is not needed to diagnose liver
cancer, but in some cases, the doctor may remove a
sample of tissue. A pathologist uses a microscope to
look for cancer cells in the tissue.
The doctor may obtain tissue in one of several ways:
- A needle through the skin: The doctor inserts a
thin needle into the liver to remove a small amount
of tissue. CT or ultrasound may be used to guide the
needle.
- Laparoscopic surgery: The surgeon makes a few
small incisions in your abdomen. A thin, lighted
tube (laparoscope) is inserted through the incision.
The laparoscope has a tool to remove tissue from
the liver.
- Open surgery: The surgeon can remove tissue from
the liver through a large incision.
You may want to ask the doctor these
questions before having a biopsy:
How will the biopsy results affect my
treatment plan?
What kind of biopsy will I have?
How long will it take? Will I be awake? Will it
hurt?
Is there a risk that a needle biopsy procedure
will cause the cancer to spread? What are the
chances of infection or bleeding after the
biopsy? Are there any other risks?
How soon will I know the results? How do I
get a copy of the pathology report?
If I do have cancer, who will talk with me
about treatment? When?
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