Liver Cancer: Causes, Diagnosis, and Hospital Care

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalized guidance and treatment.

What is liver cancer?

Primary liver cancer most commonly refers to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which begins in liver cells. Less commonly, cholangiocarcinoma arises in the bile ducts inside the liver. Secondary liver cancers are metastatic tumors that originate elsewhere in the body and travel to the liver. The liver’s role in filtering blood and processing nutrients means tumors can affect digestion, metabolism, and toxin clearance. Staging (size, number of tumors, vascular invasion, and spread) guides prognosis and treatment planning.

How is liver cancer diagnosed medically?

Diagnosis typically combines clinical evaluation, blood tests, imaging, and sometimes tissue biopsy. Medical teams commonly use liver function tests and tumor markers — such as alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) — as part of the workup. Imaging modalities include ultrasound, contrast-enhanced CT scans, and MRI, which help identify tumor size, location, and vascular supply. When imaging and lab results are inconclusive, a needle biopsy may be performed to confirm the histology. Diagnosis is often managed by a multidisciplinary medical team including hepatologists, radiologists, pathologists, and oncologists.

What symptoms does this disease cause?

Early liver cancer often causes few or no symptoms, which is why high-risk patients are placed under surveillance. When symptoms appear, they can include unintended weight loss, loss of appetite, upper abdominal pain or fullness, jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes), and abdominal swelling from fluid accumulation (ascites). Some people experience fatigue, nausea, or a noticeable mass under the right ribs. Because these signs overlap with other liver conditions, medical evaluation is necessary to determine whether symptoms relate to cancer or another liver disease.

How is treatment managed in hospital care?

Hospital-based care for liver cancer is highly multidisciplinary. Options depend on tumor stage, liver function, and patient fitness. Curative approaches for eligible patients include surgical resection of the tumor and liver transplantation for select cases with limited disease and poor underlying liver function. Local ablative procedures (radiofrequency or microwave ablation) can destroy small tumors. For intermediate-stage disease, transarterial therapies such as embolization or chemoembolization (TACE) are used to target tumors while sparing healthy tissue. Advanced disease may be treated with systemic medical therapies including targeted agents and immunotherapy, often coordinated by hospital oncology teams. Supportive hospital services include pain control, nutritional support, and palliative care when indicated.

Risk factors and prevention for liver disease

Several established risk factors increase the likelihood of liver cancer. Chronic infection with hepatitis B or C viruses and long-standing cirrhosis from alcohol-related liver disease are major contributors. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) associated with obesity and diabetes is an emerging risk factor. Other contributors include exposure to aflatoxins (in certain food supplies), hereditary metabolic disorders, and heavy alcohol use. Prevention strategies include hepatitis B vaccination, screening and treatment for hepatitis C, limiting alcohol intake, managing metabolic conditions, and maintaining a healthy weight. For people with cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis, surveillance with ultrasound (often every six months) can detect tumors earlier when treatment options are more effective.

Conclusion

Liver cancer encompasses a range of tumors that vary by cause, behavior, and treatability. Early detection in high-risk individuals, accurate medical diagnosis, and coordinated hospital-based care improve the likelihood of effective management. Because treatment options and surveillance recommendations depend on individual clinical details, patients should discuss personalized evaluation and care plans with qualified healthcare professionals.