Early diagnosis (finding the cause of the problem) is very important to help prevent the spread of liver cancer. Doctors may use any of the following diagnostic procedures to help determine if the source of the problem is related to liver cancer:
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Physical exam
- Doctor feels abdomen (stomach) region to check the liver, spleen, and nearby organs for lumps or changes in their shape/size
- Doctor also checks for unusual buildup of fluid in the abdomen
- The skin and eyes may also be checked for jaundice
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Blood tests
- High levels of AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) could be a sign of liver cancer
- Other tests can show how well the liver is functioning
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CT scan
- Imaging machine similar to an X-ray that takes a series of detailed pictures
- Injections of contrast material may be used to make the liver show up more clearly
- Doctors can find tumors in the liver or elsewhere using CT scans
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MRI
- Magnetic resonance imaging (strong magnetic linked to a computer to show detailed pictures of areas within the body
- Also used to locate or identify tumors
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Ultrasound test
- This device measures sound wave patterns of echoes as they bounce off internal organs
- Echoes produce a picture called a sonogram that can show your liver and other organs in the abdomen
- Tumors may produce different echoes than those made by normal tissue
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Biopsy
- Removal of a sample tissue for viewing under a microscope
- Obtained via a thin needle, laparoscopic surgery (small surgical cuts into the stomach), or open surgery
If liver cancer is diagnosed, it must then be determined whether the cancer cells have spread to the lungs, bones, or lymph nodes near the liver. Liver cancer in other organs of the body is still treated as “liver” cancer, and is referred to as a metastatic or distant tumor. To determine the presence of cancer in the bones, a radioactive substance is injected into the bloodstream and then scanned to make a picture of the bones. A CT scan can show if cancer has spread to the lungs; a PET scan can show where liver cancer has spread by detecting abnormally high usage of injected radioactive sugar by cancerous cells.
