Hepatic Tumors

Description

Las Hepatic tumors may be both benign (abscesses, angiomas, simple cysts, hydatid cysts, adenomas) and malign (hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma). The main risk factors to suffer a malignant hepatic tumor are age, sex (male) and cirrhosis for any cause (Hepatitis B and C, alcoholism). Eighty per cent of liver malignant tumors develop in cirrhotic livers so once cirrhosis has developed it if essential to undergo periodical diagnose tests to monitor the evolution of the disease.

Symptoms

Symptoms of hepatic tumors are little specific. It normally consists in diffuse abdominal discomfort and heavy feeling. However, as the size of the hepatic tumor grows symptoms turn acute.

Treatment

Some of the benign tumors and most of those malignant need surgical treatment which normally consists in removing the part of liver where the tumor is located. There are also less invasive techniques (radiofrequency, embolization) that may aid to the treatment of these injuries.