Liver cancer is often confined to the liver even in advanced stages.  HCC can lead to progressive loss of functional liver tissue.  Depending on its location within the organ, the tumor can grow large enough to perforate the fibrous capsule of the liver and invade surrounding tissue (for example, the peritoneum) or lymph nodes.  Cancer cells can spread to other organs through the lymphatic system and the blood stream.  They can settle there and proliferate to form metastases.  HCC may spread to the lungs, adrenal glands, bones, and brain.

Recurrence

Liver cancer often recurs even after successful treatment.  This means that the tumor can come back in the liver as well as in other parts of the body.  HCC patients should thus be regularly monitored even after curative treatment.


Contact

Center of Interventional Hepatobiliary Medicine
Prof. Dr. med. Hans Scherübl
Vivantes Klinikum Am Urban
Academic Teaching Hospital of Charité, Berlin

Dieffenbachstraße 1
10967 Berlin
Tel: + 49 30 130 225201
Fax: + 49 30 130 225205
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
vivantes.de/kau/gastro/