Know More About the Different Types of Liver Cancer

Liver cancer is amongst the common forms of cancer and is also known to be a silent cancer. It can be classified into two types depending upon its origin i.e. primary liver cancer and secondary liver cancer.

Types of liver cancer:

• Primary liver cancer: This form of liver cancer develops when the cells in the liver itself are damaged and start to grow abnormally. It usually starts in the form of a lump which could be at one or multiple sites. Primary liver cancer can be further divided into different types depending upon the cell or the area affected. Some of the common kinds are:

  • Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): It is the most common type of primary liver cancer and develops when hepatocytes, the main liver cells are affected. Hepatitis B or C infection, liver cirrhosis and alcohol can damage hepatocytes. HCC can spread from liver to other parts of the body like pancreas, intestines, and stomach.
  • Cholangiocarcinoma: It is the cancer of bile duct. Bile duct is an important part of liver and carries bile to the gallbladder. Bile is important for digestion. It accounts for approximately 10 to 20 percent.
  • Angiosarcoma: It is a rare form of liver cancer that affects the blood vessels of the liver. This type of cancer is known to spread quickly and it becomes difficult to diagnose at an early stage.
  • Hepatoblastoma: It is a rare type of liver cancer which is common in young children of less than 3 years of age. If detected at an early stage, it can be treated with the help of surgery and chemotherapy.

• Secondary liver cancer: It is also known as a liver metastasis. In this condition, cancer originates in some other part of the body like colon or rectum and later on spreads to the liver. This condition is more common in case of colorectal or colon cancer.

In case if you are at risk of liver cancer, it is recommended to go for an annual screening of liver function test and an abdominal CT scan