How is hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosed?
Most often patients are diagnosed in the process of investigating their underlying liver disease. Blood tests reveal elevated levels of AFP (alfa-fetoprotein) in 60–70% of liver cancer patients. Other diagnostic tests include abdominal CT scan, ultrasound, MRI, and angiography. A liver biopsy (ultrasound or CT guided) is indicated if other tests are inconclusive. Histological examination of tissue specimens and tumor staging are performed according to guidelines that identify the types of cells involved and the extent of tumor growth or invasion.
