How is liver cancer diagnosed?

Written by Liu Liang

Oncology

Updated on September 11, 2024

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In clinical practice, if a patient has a history of chronic hepatitis B and imaging tests, such as an enhanced CT or MRI of the liver, suggest a radiological appearance of liver cancer, combined with an AFP level greater than 400 persisting for four weeks, these conditions can support a clinical diagnosis of liver cancer. However, for a confirmed diagnosis, a liver biopsy guided by ultrasound or CT must be performed. The definitive diagnosis of liver cancer relies on identifying cancer cells through pathological examination.

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Can hepatitis B develop into liver cancer?

Hepatitis B, also known as Type B Hepatitis, can develop into liver cancer. In China, most liver cancer patients are caused by Hepatitis B. To prevent Hepatitis B from developing into liver cancer, the key is to seek early, timely, and standardized treatment. For specific treatment guidelines and treatment plans, consult a qualified hospital.

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Is the right shoulder pain from liver cancer persistent?

For patients with liver cancer, if there is pain in the right shoulder, it is not necessarily continuous, which depends on the specific cause of the right shoulder pain. If the pain is caused by bone metastasis of liver cancer to the right shoulder, the pain is often severe and persistent. Bone is one of the more common sites of metastasis for liver cancer. For bone metastases of liver cancer, we can use imaging studies to detect clear bone destruction at the metastatic sites on X-rays, CT scans, and MRI. If the right shoulder pain in liver cancer patients is caused by other benign conditions, the pain may not necessarily be persistent. For instance, liver cancer patients may also experience shoulder pain due to other conditions such as rotator cuff injuries, periarthritis, or minor trauma, but this pain is not necessarily continuous.

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Is primary liver cancer hereditary?

The occurrence of tumors is related to multiple factors including genetics, environment, and the lifestyle habits of the patient. Therefore, primary liver cancer does have a genetic component. If parents, siblings, grandparents, etc., have a history of liver cancer, the offspring of such patients might have a higher probability of developing liver cancer compared to the general population. However, it's not absolute, as it also depends on other factors like environment, personal dietary habits, lifestyle habits, whether one has hepatitis, alcoholic liver cirrhosis, and other similar factors. Thus, those with a family history of liver cancer are likely to have a higher risk of developing the condition and should be more vigilant about disease screening. Screening should be more frequent than for the general population, but this is not an absolute rule.

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Will Hepatitis B with e-antigen positive develop into liver cancer?

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Will people with early-stage liver cancer experience weight loss?

Patients with early-stage liver cancer generally do not experience weight loss; weight loss is more commonly a clinical manifestation in patients with late-stage liver cancer. The reason for weight loss in liver cancer patients is due to the damage caused by cancerous tissue to liver function, leading to reduced synthesis of albumin. Furthermore, patients with liver cancer often experience a significant decrease in food intake, resulting in insufficient intake of nutrients such as albumin. Additionally, the progression of liver cancer tumors requires the consumption of a large amount of the body's albumin. Therefore, due to these factors, many patients with late-stage liver cancer exhibit clinical manifestations of weight loss. Moreover, besides not experiencing weight loss, patients with early-stage liver cancer also do not typically present with typical clinical symptoms. Many patients are asymptomatic, and as the lesion progresses, the cancer spreads, possibly leading to clinical manifestations associated with tumor spread. For example, pain in the liver area, a significant decrease in food intake, fatigue, fever, pain, and some patients may also exhibit symptoms of metastasis such as headaches, vomiting, abdominal pain, and abdominal distension.