Liver cancer: types
Cancer of the liver is a serious form of cancer that often occurs as a secondary form of cancer that has spread from another area of the body. Tumours found in the liver may be benign or cancerous.
Tumours that originate in the liver are called primary liver cancer or primary liver tumours. Another form of liver tumour may develop from cancer cells that have come from other parts of the body. These are called secondary tumours or liver metastases. Secondary liver cancers are about 20 times more common than primary liver cancers in Western countries.
Primary liver cancer
Primary liver cancer is a relatively rare form of cancer, and is not common in Australia. It is more common in countries such as Africa and Asia.
A number of factors have been shown to put a person at a greater risk of primary liver cancer.
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Having chronic liver disease, such as viral hepatitis, alcoholic cirrhosis, haemochromatosis (an excess amount of iron in the body), or primary biliary cirrhosis (a rare form of liver disease).
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Having hepatitis B. People with hepatitis B have been identified as being 100 times more likely to develop hepatomas, a form of primary liver cancer, than non-infected people.
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Eating foods contaminated by toxins called aflatoxins, that come from certain types of fungi, can cause this type of cancer and it is thought that this is one of the major causes of liver cancer in countries such as Africa and Asia where food is often contaminated by these sorts of toxins.
Secondary liver cancer
Cancer cells can be spread to the liver from other gastrointestinal organs which have their blood flowing directly to the liver, such as the stomach, pancreas and colon. Another way that cancer cells can be spread to the liver is in the lymphatic system.
Metastasis is the word used to describe the movement of a disease from one part of the body to another. Doctors use the word ‘metastasis’ to describe cancer cells that have started a secondary tumour (say in the liver) away from the primary tumour (first site of the cancer).
Liver metastases often come from gastrointestinal tract cancers, respiratory system cancers and breast cancer. This type of liver cancer is 20 times more common than primary liver cancer.
Treatment for either type of liver cancer generally involves surgery, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy and, where possible, liver transplantation. Treatment will depend on the type of cancer and how much of the liver is affected. Your doctor is the best person to advise you about the best management options for your particular condition.
Last Reviewed: 02 August 2001
