Carcinoma of the Liver

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Carcinoma of the Liver

• By Renee Alta

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Etiology Pathophysiology

• Primary Carcinoma is rare
• Metastatic carcinoma of the liver is more common
• The reason the liver is a common site of
  metastatic growth because amount of blood and
  capillary network.

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Metastatic Liver tissue
Healthy liver tissue
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Clinical Manifestations

• In the early stages it is difficult to
  differentiate cirrhosis of the liver and liver
  cancer because they have many of the same
  clinical manifestations.
• -heptomegaly, weight loss, perirpheral edema,
  ascites, and portal hypertension.

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Diagnostic Tests

• Tests used to assist in the diagnosis are
• A liver scan
• Hepatic arteriography
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
  (ERCP)
• Liver biopsy

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Nursing Interventions

• Keep the patient comfortable.
• Adequate dietary intake with low sodium
• Move patient every two hours
• Observe for edema
• Monitor I Os and measure ankles

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Medical Management

• Treatment of Liver cancer is largely palliative.
• A lobectomy is sometimes done if the tumor is
  localized.
• Surgery is usually not possible because of the
  late detection of the disease process.
• Chemotherapy may be used but there is usually a
  poor response.