Hepatocellular carcinoma

Alternative names:

cancer of the liver; liver cancer; primary liver cell carcinoma; tumor - liver

Symptoms:

• abdominal pain or tenderness, particularly in the right-upper quadrant

Signs and tests:

Physical examination shows an enlarged, tender liver.

• A liver biopsy shows hepatocellular carcinoma.
• Serum alpha-fetoprotein is elevated.
• There may be a mass shown on abdominal CT scan.
• A liver scan may indicate an abnormality.
• Liver enzymes (liver function tests) are elevated.

This disease may also alter the following test results:

• porphyrins; urine
• PBG
• leucine aminopeptidase - serum
• leucine aminopeptidase - urine
• gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase
• gall bladder radionuclide scan
• delta-ALA
• bilirubin; urine
• AST
• ALT
• alpha-1 antitrypsin
• 5'-N'Tase