Liver cancer refers to malignant growths that arise in the liver. Cancer cells found in the liver that originated in another organ are called liver metastases. The liver is found below the right lung and under the ribcage. It is divided into two lobes: the right and the left. The liver obtains protein from the portal vein. The portal vein carries nutrient-rich blood from the intestines to the liver. The hepatic artery provides oxygen-rich blood to the liver.

Cancers that start in the liver are hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), hepatoblastoma, cholangiocarcinoma, and angiosarcoma and hemangiosarcoma. Hepatocellular carcinoma, normally diagnosed among younger individuals, contains variations of HCC and cholangiocarcinoma. Hepatoblastoma, normally diagnosed among children, is mostly a tumor form in the right lobe that can spread to other parts of the body. Cholangiocarcinoma or bile duct cancer start in the small tubes (bile ducts) that carry bile to the gallbladder. Angiosarcoma and hemangiosarcoma are rare forms of cancer that arise in the blood vessels which grow quickly and by the time they are found, they are too widespread to be removed making patients live shorter than a year in most cases.

The treatment of liver cancer may present the difference between life and death. Some of the treatments available are surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, photodynamic therapy, hyperthermia, radiation therapy, and radiosurgery.

Liver Cancer Prognosis depends on many variables like the extent of the cancer, metastases, general physical health, and the impact on the liver. Treatment centers are aimed towards improving liver cancer prognosis and the patients’ health and quality living.

There are diagnostic techniques that help physicians determine the progression or stage of the disease. A more accurate liver cancer prognosis results to a treatment plan that will best address the needs of the individual. The American Joint Committee on Cancer’s TNM system is used to aid in liver cancer staging. Such system defines the size and location of the tumor, invasion of the regional lymph nodes, and extent of the liver cancer metastasis.

“T Staging” determines the tumor count. T1 means there is no invasion caused by a single tumor. T2 means the single tumor invaded blood vessels. T2 also refers to multiple tumors smaller than a diameter of 5cm. T3 means multiple tumors are greater than 5cm in diameter. T3 also refers to a tumor affecting a major blood vessel. T4 is the invasion of a nearly organ apart from the gallbladder. T4 also refers to a tumor invasion of the liver’s covering or visceral peritoneum.

“N Staging” determines tumor location based on region. NX means the regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed. N0 means the cancer has not metastasized to regional lymph nodes. N1 means the cancer has reached regional lymph nodes.

“M Staging” determines the tumor location based on the distance reached from the primary location. MX means distant metastasis cannot be assessed. M0 means the cancer has not metastasized to other distant organs or lymph nodes. M1 means the cancer has metastasized to distant organs or lymph nodes, or both.

TNM stages are combined into the generally used Roman numeral staging from 0 to IV where the greater the stage, the more advanced and dangerous the disease.