Liver Cancer, Hepatocellular Carcinoma (Hepatoma)
Primary liver cancer is cancer that forms in the tissues of the liver. Secondary liver cancer is cancer that spreads to the liver from another part of the body. Hepatocellular Carcinoma usually arises in patients with cirrhosis of the liver due to any cause. A significant number of patients may be asymptomatic and are diagnosed following screening. Patients with cirrhosis of the liver or those at high risk of cirrhosis should be screened for hepatoma by obtaining a serum alpha fetoprotein and an ultrasound of the liver at 6-month intervals. Treatment options include resection, transplantation, percutaneous ablation therapy, and chemoembolization. Sorafenib is the only chemotherapeutic agent approved for advanced-stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma.