Hepatic Metastatic Disease

Hepatic metastatic disease, also called liver metastases, is a type of cancer that begins in another part of the body and spreads to the liver. When cancer cells break off from the primary location, they enter the blood, which is filtered through the liver. The most common causes are lung, breast, pancreas, intestinal and stomach cancer. Leukemia and lymphoma can also cause liver cancer. In some cases, the discovery of liver cancer may be the first clue that cancer exists elsewhere in the body.

Symptoms

Early stages of hepatic metastatic disease may have few or no symptoms. They may include loss of appetite, weight loss, abdominal pain and fever. The liver may feel hard and lumpy, and the spleen may be enlarged. Mild jaundice is possible if the bile ducts are blocked. As the disease progresses, the abdomen becomes swollen and the jaundice worsens. Because the liver becomes too damaged to filter the blood, toxins may accumulate in the brain and cause confusion and drowsiness.

Diagnosis

This type of cancer can be difficult to diagnose until it is in later stages. Elevated levels of bilirubin may indicate cancer, but abnormal blood test results are not a reliable diagnostic tool because liver function can be affected by many diseases. An ultrasound, CT scan or MRI can detect larger tumors, but may miss smaller ones. A liver biopsy, or sample of the tissue, is often taken to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the source of the cancer and how far it has spread. Surgery is an option if the cancer originated in the intestine or if there are only a few small tumors. Chemotherapy can reduce the size of tumors and prolong life when injected directly into the hepatic artery. In advanced cases, treatment is palliative, meaning it treats the symptoms when the disease cannot be cured, making the patient more comfortable. Radiation therapy may drastically reduce pain, but will not cure the cancer.

Prognosis

Several tests are performed to determine the prognosis of a patient with hepatic metastatic disease, including tests to determine if the tumor will respond to chemotherapy drugs. Finding and treating the source of the primary cancer is vital. Prognosis also depends on how advanced the cancer is when discovered and how many tumors are present. In most cases, liver cancer is fatal and treatment focuses on making the patient comfortable.

Prevention

With most forms of cancer, early detection and treatment is key in prolonging life and putting the cancer into remission. With liver cancer, this becomes even more important because the best way to prevent spread to the liver is to treat the primary source as soon as possible. Regular screenings including mammograms, colonoscopies and annual checkups can help prevent cancer and treat it before it becomes more advanced.

Tags: liver cancer, hepatic metastatic, hepatic metastatic disease, making patient, metastatic disease, type cancer