Liver Cancer

Liver Cancer

Liver cancer is a malignant tumor that comes out of the organ’s own tissue. The incidence of the disease varies regionally. While the disease is an important public health problem, especially in regions where hepatitis B infection is widespread, the disease is a less common type of cancer in developed countries where vaccination is effective. It is more common in men compared to women. Hepatocellular carcinoma caused by a hepatocyte, a functional cell of the liver, accounts for about 90% of liver cancers. The rest are tumors called cholangiocarcinomas, which mostly originate from the bile ducts inside the liver. The most common tumors in the liver are metastases. Metastasis is the spread of cancer in another organ or tissue to the liver. Cancers can spread to the liver almost anywhere in the body.

Treatment of Liver Cancer

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver cancer and there are different treatment options available. The treatment method that patients see the most benefit from is surgical treatment. Removal of a part of the liver to contain tumors or liver transplantation are treatment options. What is taken into account in the surgery is that the remaining liver is of sufficient quality and size for the patient. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, methods by which the tumor is burned (ablation therapy) or nuclear medicine treatments with microspheres can be applied in tumors where surgery is not suitable or in patients who are considered unable to remove these major surgeries.