Liver Cancer: Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment

Overview

The Liver Cancer Program at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi offers state-of-the-art facilities and medical care to patients with liver cancer, through a multidisciplinary team of experienced health care professionals, who are leaders in the field of hepatic oncology. Using the most sophisticated diagnostic testing and imaging, and with advanced endoscopic and interventional radiology support, and the latest robotic and minimally invasive surgical options, our team work together to provide an individualized care plan for each patient.

For patients who require a transplant following a diagnosis with liver cancer, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Liver Transplant Program offers local, trusted and experienced care. As the UAE’s first and only multi-organ transplant center, our facility performs cutting-edge, life-changing surgeries. Patients receive compassionate care and extended support and counseling to ensure the most successful medical outcome is achieved.

Why Choose Us?

We take a truly multidisciplinary approach to cancer care, close to home. Our entire team, including hepatologists, oncologists, radiologists, liver and transplant surgeons, and specialized nurse coordinators, work together to treat patients with cancerous liver tumors, benign liver tumors, cirrhosis of the liver and more.

Our multidisciplinary approach brings together a team of experts to provide coordinated and exceptional patient care to those diagnosed with liver cancer. The team meets regularly as a multidisciplinary tumor board to discuss each patient and ensure the best treatment options are considered for each individual.

The team work closely with the Cleveland Clinic US’s liver cancer program to develop the most appropriate treatment plan, to ensure the best possible outcome for each patient.

What We Treat

The Liver Cancer Program treats the following types of liver cancer:

Primary Malignant Tumors
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Cholangiocarcinoma
Gallbladder cancer
Cystadenocarcinoma

Secondary Malignant Tumors

Colorectal metastatic liver disease
Neuroendocrine tumors
Metastatic liver disease
All other metastatic hepatic diseases

Diagnosis & Treatment

Diagnosis of Liver Cancer

Your doctor may suspect liver cancer if they find lumps and other symptoms during a physical examination. They will then order other tests, which might include:

Blood tests: In people with liver cancer, cirrhosis, and hepatitis, a substance called alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) shows up in higher levels and is considered a tumor marker.
Ultrasound: This shows images of your liver.
Computed Tomography (CT) Scan: A detailed type of X-ray.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Gives very clear images of inside the body.
Angiogram: A dye is injected into an artery to show any tumors in the liver.
Laparoscopy: A thin tube with a light lets the doctor see the liver and other organs inside the stomach.
Biopsy: A small piece of tissue is removed and studied under a microscope.

Treatment of Liver Cancer

How liver cancer is treated will depend on certain things, including your general health and the stage of your cancer (how much it has spread).

Surgical treatments:

Partial hepatectomy: Involves removing part of the liver.
Total hepatectomy and liver transplant: Removing the entire liver and replacing it with one from a donor.

Other treatment options include:

Ablation therapy: This destroys tumors in the liver without removing them.
Chemotherapy: Using drugs to kill cancer cells or to stop them from multiplying.
Targeted therapy: Using drugs that target the cancer cells.
Immunotherapy: Using drugs that use the body’s own immune system to kill cancer cells.
Loco-regional therapy: Injecting radioactive beads into the blood vessel which is feeding the tumor (radioembolization).