Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer, it originates in the liver rather than spreading from another part of the body. HCC develops, especially cirrhosis caused by hepatitis B or C infection, alcohol use, or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Symptoms
In the early stages, HCC may not cause any symptoms. As the cancer progresses it may show any of the below mentioned symptoms
- Abdominal pain
- Weight loss
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)
- Swelling in the abdomen
- Loss of appetite
- Feeling full after eating little
- Nausea and vomiting
Diagnosis
HCC is diagnosed through a combination of blood tests, imaging studies, and sometimes biopsy
- Liver function tests
- Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) blood test
- Ultrasound
- CT or MRI scans
- Liver biopsy
Prevention
Measures to reduce HCC risk include:
- Hepatitis B vaccination
- Treatment of chronic viral hepatitis
- Stop Alcohol
- Maintaining a healthy weight and managing diabetes
- Avoiding aflatoxin exposure
Treatment
Treatment options depend on the stage of HCC, liver function, and overall health. Potential treatments include:
- Surgery to remove the tumor liver (transplant)
- Chemoembolization or radioembolization
- Radiation therapy
- Targeted drug therapy
- Immunotherapy
Microwave Ablation - Microwave ablation (MWA) is a minimally invasive offering several advantages over traditional surgical methods, especially for patients with small liver cancer or in cases where surgery might not be the best option.
Minimally Invasive – Microwave ablation (MWA) is performed using a needle-like probe inserted through the skin, leading to less tissue damage compared to open surgery.
Day Care Procedure - MWA is often performed on an outpatient basis, allowing patients to return home the same day
Lower Risk of Complications: Since it’s less invasive, the risk of complications like infections, bleeding, or organ damage is generally lower.
Shorter Recovery Time - often being discharged within 24 hours.
High-Risk Patients - Patients who are not good candidates for surgery due to poor health, old age, or other underlying conditions is the ideal choice for Microwave ablation.
Precision: Microwave ablation allows for precise targeting of the tumor, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
Multiple Tumors: It can be used to treat multiple small tumors simultaneously or sequentially in different parts of the liver.
Recurrent Tumors: MWA can be repeated if new tumors develop, which is more challenging with repeated surgeries.
Less Pain – Microwave ablation is less painful as compared to surgery.
Combination Therapy: It can be combined with other treatments like chemotherapy or surgery if needed.
For more information consult your nearby Intervention Radiologist or us.
