Can liver calcifications be liver cancer?

Written by Liu Wu Cai

Hepatobiliary Surgery

Updated on December 21, 2024

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Calcification in the liver is not liver cancer. For internal liver calcifications, it is described in ultrasonography and CT scans as a benign lesion, not as liver cancer. Liver cancer is a malignant tumor that can be life-threatening, thus it is considered a serious condition. When calcification is present, it is not indicative of liver cancer, but regular follow-up ultrasounds are still needed to monitor changes in size dynamically. If the calcification increases significantly in size over a short period and grows rapidly, malignant transformation should be suspected, and surgery should be conducted as soon as possible to improve the prognosis for the patient. Additionally, for liver cancer patients, it is advisable to avoid spicy and irritating foods to reduce inflammatory stimulation, which is more conducive to the recovery of the condition.

Other Voices

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Written by Peng Li Bo

Oncology

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Is primary liver cancer hereditary?

Primary liver cancer is usually not hereditary, but the reason why it tends to appear in families in China is mainly due to the widespread infection of hepatitis B virus, which then leads to a significant correlation with hepatic cirrhosis caused by hepatitis B. It is well known that the hepatitis B virus is contagious and can easily be transmitted within families and from mother to child. Therefore, it is not uncommon to see several cases of liver cancer within the same family, indicating a familial aggregation. Another factor is related to dietary habits, for example, the infection of aflatoxin, which is mainly found in moldy peanuts. If the dietary habits within a family are similar, then, of course, the likelihood of occurrence is certainly higher.

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Written by Cui Fang Bo

Oncology

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Will early-stage liver cancer cause a low-grade fever?

Patients with early-stage liver cancer may experience low-grade fevers, primarily due to the following two reasons: First, tumor fever. In the early stages of liver cancer, some tumor cells can release tumor mediators into the bloodstream, affecting the function of the temperature regulation center and causing the patient to develop a fever. This type of tumor fever is usually not very high, remaining below 38.5°C, without concurrent symptoms or signs of infection. A complete blood count typically indicates that the total number of white blood cells and the proportion of neutrophils are not elevated. The second scenario involves patients in the early stages of liver cancer experiencing fever due to concurrent infections. These patients often present with symptoms and signs related to infection, such as coughing up phlegm, abdominal pain and diarrhea, and urinary frequency, urgency, or pain. The proportion of white blood cells and neutrophils is significantly increased in these cases.

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Written by Sun Wei

Surgical Oncology

52sec

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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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Written by Yan Chun

Oncology

1min 14sec

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Why can't people with liver cancer drink milk?

Liver cancer patients are generally advised not to drink milk, particularly in cases of advanced liver cancer where there is a potential for hepatic encephalopathy. This is because, for patients in the late stages of liver cancer, liver function is compromised, and some may already exhibit symptoms indicative of pre-hepatic encephalopathy. Consuming a diet rich in protein can easily trigger hepatic encephalopathy, and since milk is high in protein, its consumption is usually limited or avoided in such patients. However, for the majority of liver cancer patients, drinking milk is permissible as it not only contains abundant protein but also rich calcium, which is beneficial for the recovery of liver cancer patients. Most liver cancer patients have hypoalbuminemia (low levels of protein in the blood) and some also have hypocalcemia (low levels of calcium in the blood), thus the intake of calcium and protein-rich foods can be very beneficial for their recovery.

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Written by Liu Liang

Oncology

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How is liver cancer diagnosed?

In clinical practice, if a patient has a history of chronic hepatitis B and imaging tests, such as an enhanced CT or MRI of the liver, suggest a radiological appearance of liver cancer, combined with an AFP level greater than 400 persisting for four weeks, these conditions can support a clinical diagnosis of liver cancer. However, for a confirmed diagnosis, a liver biopsy guided by ultrasound or CT must be performed. The definitive diagnosis of liver cancer relies on identifying cancer cells through pathological examination.