General Procedures Performed

If you have some symptoms of liver cancer, your doctor will perform one or more of the following tests to make a diagnosis:

Physical exam. The doctor will feel your abdominal area for lumps or changes in the shape or size of your liver, spleen and nearby organs. The doctor is also checking for abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen. The doctor may examine the skin and eyes for signs of jaundice.

Blood tests. Several blood tests may be used to check for liver problems. One test detects alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). High AFP levels could be a sign of liver cancer. Other blood tests (liver function tests) can show how well the liver is working.

CT scan. An X-ray machine linked to a computer takes detailed pictures of the liver and other organs in the abdomen. If you have a CT scan, you may receive an injection of a special dye that makes sure the liver shows up clearly in the pictures. Your doctor will be able to see tumors in the liver or other parts of your abdomen.

Ultrasound test. The ultrasound device uses sound waves to produce a pattern of echoes when they bounce off internal organs. The echoes create a picture, called a sonogram, of the liver and other organs in the abdomen. If tumors are present, they will cause different echoes than healthy tissues.

MRI. Magnetic Resonance Imaging or MRI is a test made by a powerful magnet linked to a computer. It makes detailed pictures of areas inside the body, which your doctor can view on a screen as well as have printed.

Angiogram. An angiogram is generally administered in a hospital or outpatient surgery center. Dye will be injected into an artery so that the blood vessels in the liver show up on an X-ray. Angiograms can reveal if there's a tumor in your liver.

Biopsy. You may have a biopsy, which is the removal of a tissue sample for analysis. Your doctor will use one of three methods for obtaining the tissue sample:

• Fine-needle aspiration. A CT or ultrasound may be used to guide a very thin needle into your liver tumor.
• Core biopsy. A thick needle or a laparoscope - a thin, lighted tube -- is inserted into a small incision in your abdomen to obtain a tissue sample of your liver tumor.
• Surgery. During an operation, your doctor can remove tissue for a biopsy.

More on Liver Cancer

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This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.