Hepatocellular carcinoma
Hepatocellular carcinoma Causes
Generally, cirrhosis of any etiology is the major risk factor for HCC. About 80% of patients with newly diagnosed HCC already have preexisting cirrhosis. Major causes of cirrhosis in the United States are attributed to hepatitis C infection, alcohol, and hepatitis B infection.
Hepatocellular carcinoma Definition
Hepatocellular carcinoma is a primary malignancy of the liver. Most cases of HCC are secondary to either a viral hepatitide infection or cirrhosis. In countries where hepatitis is not endemic, most of the malignant cancers in the liver are not primary HCC but metastasis of cancer from elsewhere in the body, like the colon. Treatment options of HCC and prognosis depend on many factors but especially on tumor size and staging.
Hepatocellular carcinoma Diagnosis
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is most commonly found in a patient with chronic viral hepatitis or with cirrhosis. These patients typically undergo surveillance with ultrasound due to the cost-effectiveness.
Hepatocellular carcinoma Symptoms and Signs
The presenting liver cancer symptoms may include weight loss, poor appetite, right upper abdominal pain or discomfort, and jaundice (yellow skin and eyes and mucus membranes). The patient may notice nothing more than being excessively tired. Bleeding may arise in the abdomen or bile duct, although this is quite unusual. HCC's can also be found while other testing is done to follow patients along who have hepatitis or cirrhosis.
Hepatocellular carcinoma Treatment
Some treatment include liver transplantation to replace the liver with a cadaver liver or a live donor lobe. If the tumor disease has spread, the immuno-suppressant post-transplant drugs decrease the chance of survival. Another form of treatment is surgical resection to remove a tumor to treat small or slow-growing tumors if they are diagnosed early. This treatment offers the best prognosis for long-term survival but is possible possible in only 10-15% of cases. Resection in cirrhotic patients brigns with it high morbidity and mortality.