Cancer

How To Diagnosis of Liver Cancer

To make a diagnosis of liver cancer, the doctor suggests a medical history, physical examination done carefully and orders some tests.

• Blood tests are used to see how well the liver. They can also be used to verify the existence of tumor markers, which are substances that are frequently found in abnormal amounts in patients with liver cancer. The tumor marker alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) may be useful to aid in the diagnosis of liver cancer. About 50 to 70 percent of people with primary liver cancer have elevated levels of AFP. However, other cancers such as germ cell cancer and in some cases, cancer of the stomach and pancreas also cause elevated AFP levels.
• Radiographs of the chest and abdomen, angiograms (x-rays of blood vessels), the CT scans (x-rays put together by computer) and magnetic resonance images (images created by using a magnetic field) can all be part of the diagnostic process.
• The liver scans using radioactive materials can help identify abnormal areas in the liver.
• The presence of liver cancer is confirmed with a biopsy. Is removed (through a needle or during surgery) from liver tissue (biopsy sample) and examined under a microscope to see whether cancer cells are present. The doctor may also look at the liver with an instrument called a laparoscope, which is a small instrument shaped tube with a light at one end. For this procedure, make a small incision in the abdomen to insert the laparoscope. The doctor may remove a small piece of tissue during laparoscopy. A pathologist then examines the tissue under a microscope to see whether cancer cells are present.

Tags: Liver Cancer, liver scans, Medical history, procedure, Radiographs of the chest and abdomen, Tumor markers

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