What Is Liver Cancer?

Liver cancer is a major complication of chronic hepatitis, especially from HBV and HCV infections. Worldwide, liver cancer is one of the top-three types of cancers, and it's a leading cause of death in the United States. Liver cancer is a broad term that can be thought of as three different types: primary liver cancer, metastatic or secondary cancer and benign tumors. Let's go through each of these types:

Primary Liver Cancer

This type of cancer begins in the liver. The major forms are hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma. HCC begins in the hepatocytes, the main type of cell in the liver, and is the most common primary liver cancer in adults. It's a big problem worldwide, but relatively rare in the United States. Cholangiocarcinoma is a cancer that starts in the liver or the tubes that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder.

Many of these cancers can be successfully treated if diagnosed early:

• Hepatocellular Carcinoma
• Cholangiocarcinoma
• Sarcoma
• Hepatoblastoma

Secondary Liver Cancer

This type of cancer begins in another organ and then travels to the liver through the blood or lymphatic system. Some people call this type of cancer metastatic cancer, because it spreads, or metastasizes, throughout the body. Metastatic cancer is identified by the organ it starts in, even though it may also affect the liver. Due to the liver's vital function in filtering your body's blood supply, metastatic cancer can easily spread to the liver from nearly any organ in the body.

Unfortunately, most cancers that have spread to the liver are difficult to successfully treat. Treatment is rarely able to cure the cancer, but it can usually offer significant benefits. There are always exceptions, so be sure to research and understand all of your treatment options.

Benign Tumors

Tumors are abnormal growths of body tissues. They are caused by normal cells that become damaged and start dividing quickly, which creates a mass or lump. Most benign tumors don't spread (which is why they're called "benign") and will cause few, if any, problems. Those that do grow large enough to interfere with the liver's functions are surgically removed. Here are three common types of benign liver tumors:

• Hemangioma - the most common benign liver tumor
• Focal Nodular Hyperplasia (FNH)
• Hepatic adenoma

These tumors are mostly found in women. Hemangiomas and FNH are usually harmless and are only treated if they start to cause problems. Hepatic adenomas can cause acute pain and bleeding and are thought to be caused, in some part, by oral contraceptives. One of the ways doctors treat this type of tumor is to restrict oral contraceptives (or other hormone treatments), which causes the tumor to shrink.

_Sources:

American Cancer Society. May 14, 2007. What Is Liver Cancer?.

Carr, BI. Tumors of the Liver and Biliary Tree. In: AS Fauci, E Braunwald, DL Kasper, SL Hauser, DL Longo, JL Jameson, J Loscaizo (eds), Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, 17e. New York, McGraw-Hill, 2008. 580-586.