Metastatic liver cancer prognosis

Introduction to Metastatic Liver Cancer

Metastatic liver cancer prognosis is a term that refers to life expectancy of patients suffering from metastatic liver cancer. Metastatic liver cancer is also known as secondary liver cancer since it does not originate from the tissues of the liver but from other organs in the body. In many cases metastatic liver cancer develops as a consequence of metastatic spread of pancreas, colon, breast and lung cancer although any cancer can eventually spread to the liver. The liver represents one of the most important organs in the body. It filters blood from many regions and is in charge with elimination of many waste products. It is no wonder that cancer cells carried by blood eventually end up in the liver and start to multiply uncontrollably.

There are several factors that influence the prognosis of metastatic liver cancer and patient's individual health is only one of them.

Metastatic Liver Cancer Conformation

We can talk about prognosis of metastatic liver cancer once the condition is confirmed. There are many ways to confirm the spread of the tumor to the liver. Patients may complain about dull pain in the upper right abdomen and in some cases they develop jaundice. Further information regarding liver metastases is achieved with ultrasound, CT scan and MRI. Even though ultrasound and CT scan can point to liver metastases the best imaging methods to confirm the condition are MRI and Gamma PET scan.

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is a perfect method of confirming liver metastases. This imaging method provides with amazing information on the site, the size and other characteristics of the metastases.

Another method that can confirm liver metastases is Gamma PET scan. This method is based on increased bonding of the tumor of simple sugar. Namely, the tumor has increased metabolism and bonds sugar more comparing to healthy tissues which can be successfully visualized.

Definitive conformation is made after biopsy of the suspicious tissues.

Metastatic Liver Cancer Prognosis

How long the patient with metastatic liver cancer will live generally depends on his/ her health, the number of liver metastases and several more factors.

Extreme drug resistance test is performed on the solid tumors and it provides with information regarding tumor resistance towards a particular chemotherapy drug. This test is essential and represents the major prognostic factor and definitely helps with selection of chemotherapeutics that are going to be administered in patients suffering from metastatic liver cancer.

Unfortunately, this is a fatal disease and eventually leads to lethal outcome. The survival rates range from 6 months to one year. Only small number of patients managed to survive beyond one year of time. The prognosis is much better in patients with small tumor (particularly if there is no vascular invasion) and if patients are of great physical and mental health. The treatment options for metastatic liver cancer are limited and they simply do not provide with desirable results in most of the cases.