JAMA PATIENT PAGE. Treatment of Liver Cancer.
The most common type of liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) originates from the main liver cell, the hepatocyte. This is different from metastatic liver cancer, which occurs in a different part of the body and spreads (metastasizes) to the liver. In the United States, the biggest risk factors for HCC are hepatitis C infection, chronic heavy alcoholconsumption,andnonalcoholicfattyliverdiseaserelatedtodiabetesandobesity.Thesefactorsproducescarringoftheliver(cirrhosis) which increases the risk of HCC. Often, HCC does not produce symptoms; hence, patients with cirrhosis are recommended to be screened for HCC with an ultrasound of the liver every 6 months. Multiple options are available for treating HCC. Optimal treatment depends on how far the cancer has spread when it is found (stage) the underlying function of the liver, and the overall health of the patient. The care of a patient with HCC may include a surgeon, cancer specialist (oncologist) liver specialist (hepatologist) interventional radiologist, and palliative care specialist.
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