How can liver cancer be diagnosed, and what are the treatment options?
Liver cancer typically occurs in the setting of advanced liver disease such as cirrhosis and can manifest with symptoms including abdominal pain, ascites, encephalopathy or worsening jaundice. Alpha fetoprotein a blood test that is elevated in up to 60% of patients with liver cancer. It is commonly used to monitor for the development of this complication. Radiographic studies of the abdomen including an ultrasound and CT scan represent the best test to diagnose cancers, as they will identify a mass that is clearly different from the surrounding liver tissue.
