Health Encyclopedia

Liver metastases

Definition

Liver metastases is cancer that has spread to the liver from somewhere else in the body.

See also: Hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer)

Alternative Names

Metastases to the liver

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Cancer that may spread to the liver include colorectal, pancreatic, stomach and esophageal cancers, as well as breast cancer, lung cancer, melanoma, and a number of other cancers.

The reasons for the spread of cancer vary. It depends both on blood flow and on the characteristics of the different cancer cells. For example, cancers of the gastrointestinal tract often spread to the liver because blood flows directly from these organs to the liver. Melanoma usually spreads through the body's blood vessels to the liver.

The risk of cancer spreading to the liver depends on the site of the original cancer. The liver cancer may also be present when the original (primary) cancer is diagnosed, or may occur months or years after the primary tumor is removed.

Symptoms

In some cases, there are no symptoms. When symptoms occur, they may include:

Weight loss
Pain, usually in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen
Jaundice
Fevers
Sweats
Nausea
Anorexia

Signs and tests

Tests that may be done to diagnose liver metastases include:

Bilirubin blood test -- may be high
Liver function tests -- may be abnormal
CT scan or MRI -- may show a mass in the liver
PET scan -- may show a mass in the liver
Ultrasound of the liver -- may show a mass in the liver

Treatment

Treatment depends on the primary cancer site, extent of spread to the liver (for example, only one tumor in the liver versus many tumors in the liver), whether it has spread to other organs, and the condition of the patient.

In situations where cancer has spread not only to the liver but to other organs as well, systemic chemotherapy (directed at treating the entire body) is usually used.

In situations in which spread is limited to the liver, systemic chemotherapy may be used, although other treatment methods may be effective. When the tumor is localized to only a few areas of the liver, the cancer may be removed surgically.

Use of radiofrequency waves or injection of toxic substances may also be used to kill tumors. When larger areas of the liver are involved, liver-directed chemotherapy (infusing chemotherapy directly into the liver), or embolization (blockage of blood flow to parts of the liver) may be used.

Expectations (prognosis)

Prognosis depends primarily on the site of the original cancer and on the extent of spread to the liver. In a minority of cases, surgical removal of liver metastases may result in cure. This, however, is usually only possible in patients with certain tumor types (for example, colorectal cancer), and when there are limited tumors in the liver.

In most cases, cancer that has spread to the liver is not curable, although the various treatments discussed above may help to shrink tumors, improve life expectancy, and relieve symptoms. However, patients with metastatic cancer to the liver usually die of their disease.

Complications

Complications are generally the result of tumors spreading to a large area of the liver. This can result in fever, pain, blockage of the flow of bile, decreased appetite, and weight loss. Liver failure may result, but usually only in the late stages of disease.

Calling your health care provider

Call your health care provider if you have cancer and suspect that it has spread to the liver. Anyone who has had a type of cancer that can spread to the liver should be aware of the signs and symptoms listed above, and call a physician should any of these develop.

Prevention

Early detection of some types of cancer may prevent the spread of these cancers to the liver.

Review Date:9/11/2006
Reviewed By:Rita Nanda, M.D., Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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