The difference between primary liver cancer and metastatic liver cancer

Written by Sun Wei
Surgical Oncology
Updated on September 29, 2024
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Primary liver cancer refers to malignant tumors that originate in the liver, while metastatic liver cancer refers to cancers that start in other parts of the body and then spread to the liver through lymphatic and blood circulation, among other routes. Another difference is that primary liver cancer is more likely to be a single lesion, while metastatic liver cancer generally involves multiple lesions. Regarding the differences between primary and metastatic liver cancer, their treatment methods also differ. For primary liver cancer, interventional chemotherapy or surgery, such as hepatic lobectomy, can be performed if the tumor is small. In contrast, metastatic liver cancer usually involves multiple lesions, making surgery alone challenging. Additionally, the primary tumor also requires treatment.

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Written by Sun Wei
Surgical Oncology
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The difference between primary liver cancer and secondary liver cancer.

Primary liver cancer generally refers to tumors whose cancer cells originate from the liver itself or from the intrahepatic bile ducts. Secondary liver cancer usually refers to cancer that has metastasized to the liver from other parts of the body, which is the main difference between the two. Additionally, primary liver cancer might progress rapidly, potentially resulting in a short survival time, especially in cases of large, inoperable tumors, where most survival times range from half a year to about a year. In contrast, secondary liver cancer might have a longer survival time, and initial symptoms are generally milder. Also, tumor markers like alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) tend to be higher in primary liver cancer, whereas in secondary liver cancer, this marker may be normal.

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Can alpha-fetoprotein confirm liver cancer?

Alpha-fetoprotein is a type of oncofetal antigen and a glycoprotein. It is used clinically as a highly specific marker for diagnosing primary liver cancer. However, elevated alpha-fetoprotein levels do not definitively indicate liver cancer, as although it is a tumor marker with diagnostic significance, elevated levels can also be seen in patients with liver cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis. Additionally, increased alpha-fetoprotein can occur in pregnant women or in the presence of other types of cancer, so further investigation is necessary to confirm the cause.

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Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
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How to rule out liver cancer when experiencing right shoulder pain?

Some liver cancer patients may experience abdominal pain that radiates to the shoulder and back, resulting in right shoulder pain. Therefore, when a patient presents with right shoulder pain, to rule out the possibility of liver cancer, some laboratory tests or radiological examinations can be conducted, and if necessary, histopathological examinations can also be performed. If hematological examination does not show an abnormal increase in AFP levels, and radiological examinations do not reveal any abnormal liver conditions such as large masses, nodular tumors, or diffuse liver lesions, and there is no history of hepatitis or cirrhosis, it is generally possible to rule out right shoulder pain caused by liver cancer. To determine the exact cause of the pain, examinations such as X-rays of the right shoulder, CT scans, and if necessary, MRI or bone scans can be conducted to exclude right shoulder pain caused by liver cancer lesions.

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Will "small three yang" lead to liver cancer?

Hepatitis B "minor three positives" refers to positivity in the first, fourth, and fifth items of the complete hepatitis B panel. It is common among patients with acute and chronic hepatitis B. There is no necessary correlation between "minor three positives" and cancer. While some patients with "minor three positives" may develop liver cancer, not all liver cancer patients necessarily progress from this condition, indicating no inevitable link between the two.

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What should I do if I have liver cancer and a fever of 38 degrees Celsius?

Liver cancer patients experiencing a fever of 38°C can be seen in the following scenarios: The first type is tumor-related fever. In liver cancer patients, especially those in the advanced stages or with large tumors, a fever of around 38°C can occur in the absence of infection symptoms. This tumor fever is related to various mediators released into the blood by the tumor. The second type is infectious fever. Cancer patients undergoing anti-tumor treatment may experience immunosuppression and concurrent infections. This type of fever often exceeds 38.5°C but can also occur around 38°C in the early stages, often accompanied by symptoms of infection such as coughing, sputum production, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. The third type is treatment-related fever. Patients with liver cancer may experience a fever of around 38°C on the day of and several days following interventional treatments.