Liver Cancer Medical Tests & Diagnosis

Conditions & Diseases: Cancers

Liver Cancer Medical Tests & Diagnosis

Medical Tests and Diagnosis

Liver cancer symptoms can be similar with other medical disorders and only a doctor can establish a correct diagnosis. The diagnosis procedure involves a certain number of steps:

Anamnesis (detailed medical review of past health state):
One of the first steps in establishing a liver cancer diagnosis is a detailed and complex medical review of a patient's past health problems and general health state, family medical history, liver cancer risk factors, and symptoms.

Physical examination:
During the physical examination, the doctor looks for noticeable signs of lung cancer like jaundice (yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes caused by an accumulation of bile pigment -bilirubin- in the blood) and ascentis (accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity). Also, the doctor will examine the abdominal cavity looking for modifications (lumps, swellings) of the internal organs like the liver, spleen, and adjacent organs.

Blood tests
For patient that might suffer from liver cancer, there are two main sets of blood tests performed. The first set of blood tests, called a complete blood count, examines the concentration of blood components like the red, white blood cells and platelets . These tests are:

Hematocrit: This test measures the volume of red blood cells as a percent of the total blood volume.
Hemoglobin: This test measures the number of grams of red blood cells in a sample of blood.
Platelet Count: This test measures the number of platelets and assesses the blood's ability to clot.
White Blood Count: This test measures the number of white blood cells in a sample of blood.

The second set of blood tests, called the liver function tests, examines the blood components closely related to the liver. The purpose of this blood test is to determine the overall health of the liver.

CEA test: This test measures the level of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in the blood. CEA is normally a protein produced by the fetus in the first two trimesters of pregnancy, but it is also present in high levels in patients that suffer from digestive system, lung, and breast carcinomas, or with liver metastases from colon cancer.
AFP test: This test measures the level of alpha fetoprotein (AFP) in the blood. AFP is another substance which is normally produced by the fetus and by a new-born baby in his/her first 9 and 12 months of life. High levels of AFP are present in patients that suffer from hepatocellular carcinoma.

Imaging techniques

Computed tomography (CT): This imaging test is similar with an x-ray test, and creates a detailed cross-sectional image of the body.
A CT scan is usually performed in two steps for a better diagnoses outcome:
1). First, the targeted area is scanned without a contrast agent.
2). Second, the targeted area is scanned after a contrast agent was administrated.
This is an effective test to reveal liver cancer tumors.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): This imaging technique uses radio waves and strong magnets to reveal a complete image of the liver. The energy from the radio waves is absorbed by the tissues and then revealed into a recognizable pattern on a special monitor.
Chest X-ray: An x-ray test uses high energy electromagnetic radiation to penetrate the body and create the inside image on a film. A chest x-ray can reveal tumors of the liver, provides useful information on the general health state of the liver, and determines whether or not the cancer has spread to other organs or if fluid has collected around the lungs.
Angiography or CT-Angiogram: This imaging technique is similar with a CT scan, and is used to examine the blood vessels. This test provides useful information on the number and location of the liver tumors.
The liver receives blood from main veins: portal veins (which carries high nutrient blood from the spleen, pancreas, small and large intestine) and hepatic artery (which carries blood rich in oxygen from the heart). The normal, healthy liver cells receive their blood supply from the portal vein, while the tumor cells receive their blood supply from the hepatic artery. During this test, contrast agent is injected into the portal vein, which is absorbed by the liver’s cells. The healthy area of the liver will appear as a light color tissue and the liver tumor will look black.
Ultrasound: Ultrasound imaging is a medical technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to create an interior image of the body on a special computer screen. This image is formed from the echoes of the sound waves on the surface of the organs. Abnormal tissue masses and organs reflect sound waves differently. This test involves a device called a transducer, that is placed on the upper part of the abdomen, and a computer that translates this sound into an image. Ultrasound imaging is a safe, noninvasive and brief test that can detect liver tumors.
Laparoscopy: This is a surgical procedure used to examine the liver and organs around the liver. This procedure uses a thin tube, called a laparoscope, which is inserted through a small incision into the patient's chest cavity. During this procedure the doctor can remove small samples of tissue for a microscopic examination.

Liver Biopsy
This is one of the most effective diagnosis procedures which confirms if the tumor or abnormal growth is a malignant tissue or not. A biopsy is a medical procedure where a sample of tissue is removed from the target area.

There are two ways to remove a tissue sample:

Through a needle aspiration
Through a laparoscopy

Article by Alina Morrow, MA
Medical Writer
OmniMedicalSearch.com