Liver cancer B-ultrasound manifestations

Written by Li Hu Chen
Imaging Center
Updated on February 28, 2025
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Generally speaking, for diseases of the hepatobiliary system, most of us conduct examinations using ultrasound because it is very convenient, safe, involves no radiation, and the results are relatively quick. Generally, liver cancer can appear as hypoechoic, hyperechoic, or mixed echogenicity on ultrasound. Most such liver cancer nodules may have a complete capsule, but some may not have a complete capsule. Overall, this type of liver cancer tends to grow expansively and invasively, compressing the surrounding normal liver tissue, and possibly showing some halo signs around it. The vast majority of liver cancers do not occur independently; they usually develop gradually from cirrhosis. Therefore, there is often an enlargement of the portal vein, and in some cases of liver cancer with metastasis, thrombosis in the portal vein can be seen.

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Is primary liver cancer prone to metastasis?

Primary liver cancer's likelihood of metastasis depends on its pathological staging. If detected in the middle or late stages, it is more likely to metastasize. The most common sites of metastasis for primary liver cancer include intrahepatic and nearby digestive organs, such as the gastrointestinal tract and the peritoneum. Additionally, primary liver cancer can also spread through the bloodstream and the lymphatic system, reaching distant locations like the lungs, brain, and bones. If primary liver cancer cannot be surgically treated, the treatment options are limited, and the survival time is generally short, with an average lifespan of about one to two years.

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Should the gallbladder be removed in the early stage of liver cancer?

Whether early-stage liver cancer patients need to have their gallbladder removed depends on the location of the tumor. For liver cancers located close to the gallbladder, gallbladder removal is generally necessary. For liver cancer lesions that are farther from the gallbladder, it is usually sufficient to only remove the liver tumor, or to perform a resection of the local liver segment or sub-segment. Additionally, for early-stage liver cancer patients to undergo surgery, certain conditions must be met: the tumor must be five centimeters or smaller, there should be no cancerous thrombus in the main trunk of the portal vein, the liver cancer tumor should not involve the semi-dry or full-dry circumstances, and the liver function should be compensatory. Under these conditions, an effort should be made to perform liver tumor resection. Generally, cancers located in the left lobe of the liver require local resection, either of a liver segment or sub-segment, and sometimes resection of the liver lobe may be performed. Tumors located in the right lobe of the liver or the hepatic portal area require local tumor resection.

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The difference between primary liver cancer and secondary liver cancer

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Can alpha-fetoprotein diagnose liver cancer?

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Will Hepatitis B with e-antigen positive develop into liver cancer?

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