How is liver cancer diagnosed?
Liver cancer is also known as hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC. It is a cancer that originates in liver. Liver cancers are malignant tumors that grow on the surface or inside the liver.
Diagnosis of Liver Cancer
Blood Tests
- Liver cancer depends so much on the vigilance of the physician screening with a tumor marker (alpha-fetoprotein) in the blood and radiological imaging studies.
- If the blood tests become abnormal or worsen due to liver cancer, this usually signifies extensive cancerous involvement of the liver.
- in liver cancer, the cancerous liver cells may take on the characteristics of other types of cells.
- For example, liver cancer cells sometimes can produce hormones that are ordinarily produced in other body systems.
- These hormones then can cause certain abnormal blood tests
- These include a high red blood count (erythrocytosis), low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and high blood calcium (hypercalcemia).
- High serum cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia), is seen in up to 10% of patients from Africa with liver cancer.
- The high cholesterol occurs because the liver cancer cells are not able to turn off (inhibit) their production of cholesterol.
- There is no reliable or accurate screening blood test for liver cancer.
- The most widely used biochemical blood test is alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)
- AFP is a protein normally made by the immature liver cells in the fetus.
In adults, high blood levels (over 500 nanograms/milliliter) of AFP are seen in only three situations:
- Liver cancer.
- Germ cell tumors (cancer of the testes and ovaries).
- Metastatic cancer in the liver (originating in other organs).
There are a number of other liver cancer tumor markers like:
- Des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin (DCP),
- A variant of the gamma-glutamyltransferase enzymes,
- Variants of other enzymes (for example, alpha-L-fucosidase).
Imaging Studies
These studies provide information
- as to the size of the tumor.
- the number of tumors.
- whether the tumor has involved major blood vessels locally or spread outside of the liver.
Ultrasound Examination
- It is usually the first study ordered if liver cancer is suspected in a patient.
- The accuracy of an ultrasound depends very much on the technician and radiologist.
- Computerized axial tomography (CT scan) is a very common study used in the U.S.
- The ideal CT study is a multi-phase, spiral CT scan using oral and intravenous contrast material.
Pictures are taken in three phases:
- Without intravenous contrast.
- With intravenous contrast (enhanced imaging) that highlights the arterial system (arterial phase).
- When the contrast is in the venous phase.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- It can provide very clear images of the body.
- Its advantage over CT is that MRI can provide sectional views of the body in different planes.
Others
- If there is uncertainty about the diagnosis, the presence of liver cancer may be confirmed with a biopsy.
- Tissue from the liver is removed through a needle or during an operation and checked under a microscope for the presence of cancer cells.
- Laproscopy is another method.
Staging
The following stages are used for adult primary liver cancer:
- Localized resectable
Cancer is found in one place in the liver and can be completely removed by surgery.
- Localized unresectable
Cancer is found only in one part of the liver, but the cancer cannot be totally removed.
- Advanced
Cancer has spread through much of the liver or to other parts of the body.
- Recurrent
Cancer has come back or recurred after it was treated. It may come back in the liver or in another part of the body.
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Categories: Body, Cancer, Cells, Complications, cure, Detection, Diagnosis, digestion, Digestive System, Disease, Disorder, growth, health, Healthy, Liver, Metabolism Tags: Blood tests, Body, Brain, Break down, Chemicals, Cholesterol, Detoxification, Detoxify, Diagnosis, digestion, Fats, Functions, health, Healthy, Human, Imaging, Liver, Metabolism, MRI, Organs, Regulate, Staging, Store, Sugar, Ultrasound, Vital
How is thyroid cancer diagnosed?
If a person has symptoms that suggest thyroid cancer, the doctor may perform a physical exam and ask about the patient’s personal and family medical history. The doctor also may order laboratory tests and imaging tests to produce pictures of the thyroid and other areas.
The exams and tests may include the following:
- Larger and more anteriorly (front) located nodules can be felt by the examiner.
- A physician will ask about any other medical history and any risk factors for thyroid nodules or cancer, including family history of thyroid cancer or radiation exposure of the head or neck.
- Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and levels of thyroid hormone can indicate whether the thyroid is under- or overproducing thyroid hormones.
- Anti-thyroid antibody levels can indicate the presence of autoimmune thyroid inflammation that can be seen with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
- Calcitonin levels in the blood can indicate a specific type of thyroid cancer, known as medullary carcinoma of the thyroid.
- Ultrasound : This is a test that uses sound waves to take a picture of the thyroid. An ultrasound can reveal which thyroid nodules are larger than 1-1.5 centimeters, requiring further evaluation for cancer. It includes number of nodules, location of nodules, distinctness of borders, fluid versus solid contents, other nodule contents, such as calcium deposits, or the amount of blood flow.
- Radionuclide scanning : The doctor may order a nuclear medicine scan that uses a very small amount of radioactive material to make thyroid nodules show up on a picture.
- Biopsy : The removal of tissue to look for cancer cells is called a biopsy. A biopsy can show cancer, tissue changes that may lead to cancer, and other conditions. A biopsy is the only sure way to know whether a nodule is cancerous.
Categories: Cancer, causes, Diagnosis, growth, health, Malignancy, Thyroid Tags: Blood tests, Cancer, causes, Cells, Diagnosis, Gland, Goitre, growth, Iodine, neck, Physical examination, Thyroid, Thyroid cancer, Thyroid gland, Tissues, Types
How is Leukemia diagnosed ?
Leukemia can be diagnosed with a variety of tests, and understanding what each test is and what it looks for can make the tests a little less confusing. Doctors sometimes find leukemia after a routine blood test. If you have symptoms that suggest leukemia, your doctor will try to find out what’s causing the problems. Your doctor may ask about your personal and family medical history.
- Physical Examination
An exam is much like any doctor’s appointment; the doctor will take a detailed medical history and thoroughly examine the whole body.
- Blood Tests
To diagnose leukemia, a number of blood tests are performed. These tests are used to evaluate the type and quantity of blood cells that are present, the blood chemistry, and other factors.
- Full blood count
It is used to establish the numbers of different blood cell types in the circulation. A low number of red or white blood cells is described as anemia or leukopenia, respectively.
- Bone Marrow Biopsy
A biopsy takes a small sample of bone marrow tissue from the body. The doctor asks the patient to lie on his or her side and nurses clean the biopsy site with iodine or alcohol. After the site is cleaned, the biopsy site is numbed with a local anesthetic. The doctor uses either a very fine needle to draw out only bone marrow tissue, or a thicker needle to take a small sample of bone and bone marrow. The bone marrow sample is examined under a microscope to check for leukemia cells.
- Cytogenetics
It is a newer type of testing for leukemia. Cytogenetic testing uses a sample taken from a blood draw or a bone marrow or lymph node biopsy. The sample’s chromosomes are microscopically examined for abnormalities that indicate damage to the cells’ DNA.
- Spinal tap
The doctor uses a long, thin needle to remove fluid from the lower spine. The procedure takes about 30 minutes and is performed with local anesthesia. You must lie flat for several hours afterward to keep from getting a headache.
- Chest x-ray
An x-ray can show swollen lymph nodes or other signs of disease in your chest.
- CT scan of the head, chest, and belly, to find out whether leukemia has spread there.
- Lumbar puncture is to find out whether leukemia cells are in your cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
- Differential blood count (DBC)
It is used to determine the relative proportion of blood cell types within the bloodstream. In particular, the percentage of immature leukemic “blast” cells is noted.
- Hematocrit assay
It is used to determine the proportion of the blood that is occupied by erythrocytes (red blood cells). In adult men, normal is about 46% (39.8–52.2) and in adult women, it is about 40.9% (34.9–46.9).
Categories: Acute lymphocytic leukemia, Acute Myelogenous Leukemia, Cancer, causes, cure, Diagnosis, growth, health, Leukemia Tags: Biopsy, Blood, Blood cells, Blood tests, Body, Cancer, causes, Cells, CT Scan, Diagnosis, health, immature, immune system, Leukemia, Methods, MRI, Organs, Tissues, X-ray
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