Treatment may include: Surgery. In some cases surgery may be used to remove cancerous tissue from the liver. However, the tumor must be small and confined. Radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill or shrink cancer cells.
Full Answer
What kind of radiation is used to treat liver cancer?
Radiation therapy for liver cancer. External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) delivers high-energy radiation to tumors using a special X-ray machine called a linear accelerator. This machine allows radiation to be delivered from any angle and shapes radiation beams to the contour of the tumor. EBRT is an outpatient procedure.
What are liver lesions and how are they treated?
Liver lesions are abnormal clumps of cells in your liver, and they are very common. They will be detected in as much as 30% of people over 40 who undergo imaging tests. 1 The majority of liver lesions are benign (not harmful) and don't require treatment. But in some cases, liver lesions are malignant (cancerous) and should be treated.
Are all liver lesions cancerous?
Although most are benign, some liver lesions are cancerous. Types of Liver Cancer There are two major types of primary liver cancer (cancers that start in the liver): Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): This is the most common type of liver cancer.
Is there a cure for Stage 1 liver cancer?
Potentially resectable or transplantable liver cancers (stage I and some stage II tumors) Potentially resectable: If your cancer is early stage and the rest of your liver is healthy, surgery (partial hepatectomy) may cure you. Only a small number of people with liver cancer are in this category.
Can radiation get rid of liver cancer?
Radiation can be helpful in treating: Liver cancer that cannot be removed by surgery. Liver cancer that cannot be treated with ablation or embolization or did not respond well to those treatments. Liver cancer that has spread to other areas such as the brain or bones.
What is the success rate of radiation therapy for liver cancer?
The 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates of the radiotherapy group were 51.6%, 28.4%, and 19.9%, respectively; the survival rates of the surgery group were 40.1%, 17.0% and 13.6%, respectively (43). Lim et al. treated 45 HCC patients with portal vein tumor emboli with 3DCRT from 38 to 65 Gy in fractions.
Is a 1 cm liver lesion big?
Size – Most incidental liver lesions <1 cm are benign, while some small lesions may be difficult to definitively characterize by imaging methods [13,14]. Most lesions ≥1 cm can be diagnosed either by further imaging (eg, MRI tailored for liver lesion evaluation) and/or histology.
How are cancerous liver lesions treated?
Treatment options might include ablation, embolization, or both for the liver tumor(s). Other options may include targeted therapy, immunotherapy, chemotherapy (either systemic or by hepatic artery infusion), and/or radiation therapy.
Can radiation shrink liver tumors?
Liver cancer radiation treatment involves the use of high-energy rays that are precisely targeted to destroy cancerous cells and shrink tumors. However, external beam radiation therapy, which is a common form of radiation treatment for other types of cancer, is not usually recommended for treating liver cancer.
What are the side effects of radiation therapy?
Specific side effects of radiation therapy that affect parts of the bodyHeadaches.Hair loss.Nausea.Vomiting.Extreme tiredness (fatigue)Hearing loss.Skin and scalp changes.Trouble with memory and speech.More items...•
Is a 1.5 cm liver tumor big?
The diagnosis of HCC of 2 cm or less is reported to be very difficult (19, 20). Univariate analysis in our series showed that lesion size of 1.5 cm or less was a significant characteristic of benign liver lesions misdiagnosed as HCCs.
How big are cancerous liver lesions?
The median tumor size of HCC patients with SEER historic stage A was 5.97 cm (range, 0.1–20). Figure 2B shows the distribution of SEER historic stage A of HCCs according to tumor size. Patients with localized HCC had significantly smaller tumors (4.92 cm) than those with HCC with regional metastasis (6.95 cm).
What is the average size of a liver lesion?
The lesions are often < 8 cm but can be > 15 cm microscopically; they appear as monotonous sheets of normal or small hepatocytes with no bile duct, portal tract or central vein. Five percent of hepatic adenomas transform to HCC[71].
What size liver lesion is considered large?
Recent work indicates that with colorectal liver metastases, careful MRI or CT should detect 95% or more of lesions larger than about 15 mm. The real issue now is the accuracy of detection for lesions smaller than this.
What size liver tumor is considered large?
Purpose: Large primary liver cancer (PLC) more than 10 cm in diameter is not infrequently encountered in clinical practice. This study evaluated the clinicopathological features and long-term results after surgery for large PLC.
How do you know if a liver lesion is cancerous?
Malignant liver lesions are diagnosed in a myriad of ways. If your healthcare provider suspects you have liver cancer, any of these may be ordered: Blood tests like alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) tumor marker and liver function tests (LFTs) Imaging tests like ultrasounds, computerized tomography (CT) scans, and MRIs.
How long does radiation treatment last?
In most cases, radiation treatments are given five days a week over the course of several weeks.
What is the difference between brachytherapy and stereotactic radiation?
Brachytherapy – Sources of radiation are placed inside a patient’s body at or near an area that requires treatment; because the radiation travels only a short distance, damage to nearby healthy tissue is minimized. Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) – High-energy beams are aimed at a tumor from several different angles.
Can you use radiation for liver cancer?
However, external beam radiation therapy, which is a common form of radiation treatment for other types of cancer, is not usually recommended for treating liver cancer.
What are some examples of radiation therapy for liver cancer?
Examples of radiation therapies used to treat liver cancer include: Calypso® 4D Localization System™ may allow a radiation therapist to better target the liver while sparing surrounding tissue from damage. The liver may move during radiation treatment because of breathing and normal movement in the intestines.
What is the best treatment for liver cancer?
Radiation therapy for liver cancer. Radiation treatment for liver cancer requires accuracy and precision. With advanced radiation therapy delivery systems, our radiation oncologists are better able to target difficult-to-reach tumors in the liver.
What is IMRT in radiation?
Compared to standard radiotherapy, IMRT allows a radiation oncologist to use higher radiation doses than traditional therapies would allow in these areas. At the same time, IMRT helps to spare more of the surrounding healthy liver tissue from harmful doses of radiation.
How does TomoTherapy work?
TomoTherapy® may offer the following advantage for liver cancer patients: 1 It uses built-in CT scanning to confirm the exact shape and location of a liver tumor seconds before treatment begins. 2 It is designed to target hard-to-reach liver tumors by sculpting small, powerful and precise radiation beams at the tumors from a full 360 degrees. 3 It may lessen treatment-related side effects by reducing damage to nearby healthy tissue. 4 It may avoid radiation exposure to muscle tissue, the spine, lungs and other sensitive organs.
Why does the liver move during radiation?
The liver may move during radiation treatment because of breathing and normal movement in the intestines. Typically, radiation oncologists expand the treatment area to ensure the moving target is irradiated. In the process, healthy tissue in or near the liver may be affected, leading to a high risk of liver damage, ...
Does Cyberknife help with liver cancer?
It may avoid radiation exposure to muscle tissue, the spine, lungs and other sensitive organs. CyberKnife® robotic radiosurgery for liver cancer allows doctors to confirm the location of the liver tumor and continually track its movement , in real time, ...
What is a liver lesion?
A liver lesion is also called a liver tumor or mass. Tolu Ajiboye is a health writer who works with medical, wellness, biotech, and other healthcare technology companies. Doru Paul, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hematology.
What is the most common type of liver lesion?
Hepatic hemangioma is the most common type of liver lesion, consisting of clusters of small blood vessels. Around 20% of the general population have hemangiomas. 2 They don't typically cause symptoms, so they can be left untreated.
What are the different types of liver cancer?
Types of Liver Cancer. There are two major types of primary liver cancer (cancers that start in the liver): Hepatocellular carcinoma ( HCC): This is the most common type of liver cancer. HCC tumors are three times more common in men than women. 4 . Fibrolamellar carcinoma: This is a subtype of HCC, where fibrous bands separate the cells ...
What happens to a hepatocellular carcinoma?
About 5% of them will transform into hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)—a type of liver cancer. More, in about 10% of cases, the lesion will spontaneously rupture or cause internal bleeding. This mostly happens during menstruation, pregnancy, and the postpartum period.
What causes liver lesions?
Many factors can cause this damage, including excessive alcohol intake and hepatitis B or C infection. Liver lesions discovered in a person who has cirrhosis are most likely to be hepatocellular carcinoma.
What is the term for a condition where the body stores excessive amounts of iron in the liver and other organs?
Iron storage disease (hemochromatosis): This is a condition where the body stores excessive amounts of iron in the liver and other organs. Sex: Men are more likely to have liver cancer than women. Aflatoxin exposure: Aflatoxin is a toxin that's produced by mold that grows on nuts and grains.
Where do tumors appear in the liver?
These tumors can appear in the bile duct parts that are in the liver, or further down, in parts of the bile duct near the small intestine. Rarer types of liver cancer include liver angiosarcoma and hepatoblastoma. Cancerous tumors that originate in other parts of the body can spread to the liver.
How to treat liver cancer?
Treatments for liver cancer include: Ablation: Ablation destroys the liver lesion with heat or chemicals. This works best in small lesions. Removal of the tumor: Surgery to remove the tumor usually works best if the liver is healthy.
What to do if you have a liver lesion?
They may recommend specialized testing or monitoring to check for changes that require additional care. And if imaging studies show signs of a liver lesion, remember that it might not be serious.
What is the most common form of liver cancer?
Cancerous liver lesions include: Hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common form. It develops in people with liver damage due to viral hepatitis and alcoholism. Metastatic liver cancer, which occurs when tumors from other parts of the body spread to the liver.
What are the most important tests for liver cancer?
The most important tests used are: Abdominal imaging such as ultrasound, CT scan and MRI. Tumor markers. These are blood tests that can diagnose certain types of liver lesions. Biopsy. This a procedure that allows the provider to obtain a tiny piece of the liver or liver lesion to examine under the microscope.
What is the most common benign liver lesion?
Liver hemangioma, the most common benign liver lesion. It occurs in up to 5% of adults and consists of abnormal blood vessels. Focal nodular hyperplasia, which often develops in women and has a scar-like appearance. Liver adenoma, a rare liver tumor.
What is the procedure to remove a liver?
Liver transplantation: The whole liver may need to be removed and replaced with another whole or part of a liver. This is usually done when the liver is diseased (cirrhosis). Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy may be placed directly in the tumor in a certain procedure or given by mouth.
What is liver adenoma?
Liver adenoma, a rare liver tumor. It occurs in people who take steroids, like those found in birth control pills. Liver cysts, fluid-filled sacs that may be present at birth. They can also develop later in life.
What is it called when liver cancer comes back?
Cancer that comes back after treatment is called recurrent. Recurrence can be local (in or near the same place it started) or distant (spread to organs such as the lungs or bone). Treatment of liver cancer that returns after initial therapy depends on many factors, including where it comes back, the type of initial treatment, ...
What are the stages of liver cancer?
Although the AJCC (TNM) staging system (see Liver Cancer Stages) is often used to describe the spread of a liver cancer, doctors use a more practical system to determine treatment options. Liver cancers are often categorized as: 1 Potentially resectable or transplantable cancer 2 Unresectable (inoperable) cancer that has not spread 3 Advanced cancer
What is the treatment for a hepatic artery tumor?
Other options may include targeted therapy, immunotherapy , chemotherapy (ei ther systemic or by hepatic artery infusion), and/or radiation therapy. For some of these cancers, treatment may shrink the tumor (s) enough so that surgery (partial hepatectomy or transplant) may become possible.
What is the treatment for cancer?
If the cancer is widespread, targeted therapy, immunotherapy , or chemotherapy drugs may be options. Patients may also wish to ask their doctor whether a clinical trial may be right for them. Treatment can also be given to relieve pain and other side effects.
What are the factors that affect the outcome of liver surgery?
Important factors that may influence the outcome are the size of the tumor (s) and if nearby blood vessels are affected. Larger tumors or those that invade blood vessels are more likely to come back in the liver or spread elsewhere after surgery. How well your liver is working and your general health are also important.
Why is radiation important for cancer patients?
Treatments such as radiation might also be used to help relieve pain and other symptoms. Please be sure to discuss any symptoms you have with your cancer team, so they can treat them effectively.
Can liver cancer be treated with surgery?
Because these cancers are widespread, they cannot be treated with surgery.
What are the different types of liver cancer?
Several liver cancer staging systems have been developed that take into account how the function of the liver may affect the prognosis: 1 Barcelona-Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) system 2 Cancer of the Liver Italian Program (CLIP) system 3 Okuda system
What is the most common staging system for liver cancer?
Okuda system. Though the TNM system is the most common, there’s no single staging system consistently used by the medical community, so if you have questions about your liver cancer stage, make sure to discuss them with your oncology team.
Where does stage 4 liver cancer spread?
Stage 4 liver cancer: The cancer may have spread to nearby lymph nodes and/or to distant sites within the body . Advanced liver cancer doesn’t often metastasize, but when it does, it’s most likely to spread to the lungs and bones.
What does the number M mean in cancer?
M (metastasis) refers to whether cancer has spread to distant parts of the body. (The most common sites of liver cancer spread are the lungs and bones.) A number (0-4) or the letter X is assigned to each factor. A higher number indicates increasing severity. For example, a T1 score indicates a smaller tumor than a T2 score.
What is clinical trial?
Determine clinical trial eligibility: Clinical trials are programs researching new drugs or treatments intended to improve a person’s chances of survival. You and your care team may work together to decide on a treatment plan that best manages a particular cancer and its symptoms and provides the best quality of life.
Is liver cancer a life threatening condition?
Unlike other cancers, liver cancer is complicated by the fact that most patients have damage that limits the organ’s function. The liver provides a crucial service for the body, aiding in digestion and detoxification. Reduced liver function may result in severe, even life-threatening, conditions.
Does TNM look at liver function?
However, TNM—created by the American Joint Committee on Cancer—doesn’t look at liver function. This is why other staging systems, such as the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer system, are sometimes used for primary liver cancer. The TNM system bases the staging criteria on the evaluation of three primary factors: