Liver Diseases And Liver Cancer Treatment

Liver disease includes a number of complex disorders that affect the functioning of the liver and in advanced cases, brings about a complete stoppage of its activities. The liver is an important organ in vertebrates and is responsible for carrying out various metabolic activities of the system. Liver disease is generally a life threatening condition as it progressively affects all the vital organs and therefore the functioning of the whole body.

The liver performs several roles in carbohydrate metabolism, gluconeogenesis that produces glucose and certain aminoacids, glycogenolysis, glycogenesis and the breakdown of insulin and other hormones. It plays an important role in lipid metabolism such as cholesterol synthesis and the production of triglycerides.

Hepatitis is a common yet deadly disease involving the inflammation of the liver. It is caused usually by various viruses but can also be caused by some poisons, autoimmunity, or hereditary factors. The death of the liver cells or hepatocytes can be caused by viral hepatitis, alcoholism, or contact with other liver-toxic chemicals.

Hemochromatosis, is a hereditary disease causing the accumulation of iron in the body that eventually leads to liver damage. Wilsons disease is also a hereditary disease that causes the body to retain copper. Primary biliary cirrhosis is an auto immune disease of small bile ducts.

Liver function tests (done by health researchers and professionals) determine the presence and concentration of specific enzymes that are specific to the liver and are present in the tissues. Their concentration or absence indicates the malfunctioning of the liver. Liver dialysis is a technique used as a treatment for liver failure wherein some of the functions of the liver are emulated outside the body through a machine. Liver transplantation is a well accepted treatment and is a viable option for patients in suffering from final stage liver diseases or acute liver failure. It involves the replacement of a diseased liver with a healthy donor's liver.

There are two types of liver cancer namely, primary liver cancer and secondary (metastatic) liver cancer. Secondary liver cancer is more common, and is second to cirrhosis in liver related deaths. The typical symptoms of liver cancer are abdominal pain on the right side, tenderness of the liver, weight loss, anorexia, fever, jaundice, and fatigue. The precise cause of liver cancer in adults has not yet been determined, however, it may be a genetic disease in children. Diagnosing liver cancer can be difficult, therefore, several tests such as blood tests, CT scans, Ultrasound, or MRI scan may be conducted to effectively diagnose liver cancer.

The course of treatment for liver cancer depends on the age, stage of the disease, and overall health condition of a patient. While surgery may be effective in treating liver cancer, the size or position of the tumor can rule out the possibility of surgery. RFA or radiofrequency ablation is a popular treatment where the hepatic artery that supplies blood to the liver is blocked, and injected with chemotherapy drugs. Other techniques include cryoablation, ethanol injections, radiation therapy, and more. Research is still underway in finding out better non-invasive forms of treatment.