Six major clinical manifestations of liver cancer

Liver cancer is a malignant tumor with a mortality rate second only to gastric cancer and esophageal cancer. The early symptoms of liver cancer are not obvious. Many patients do not pay attention to it and it is already in the late stage when they discover it. Therefore, we must learn about liver cancer in our daily life. The following is an introduction to the clinical manifestations of liver cancer by relevant experts.

1. Pain in the liver area

More than half of the patients have pain in the liver area, which is equivalent to the location of the tumor. Most of them are persistent distending pain or dull pain. Liver pain is caused by the rapid growth of the tumor, which causes the liver capsule to be pulled. If the lesion invades the diaphragm, the pain may involve the right shoulder. When the cancerous nodule ruptures, it may suddenly cause severe pain and symptoms and signs of peritonitis. If the amount of bleeding is large, it will cause syncope and shock.

2. Hepatomegaly

About 90% of patients have an enlarged liver that is progressively enlarged. The texture is hard and uneven, with nodules or lumps of varying sizes, blunt and irregular edges, and often varying degrees of tenderness. When liver cancer protrudes under the right costal arch or xiphoid process, the upper abdomen may show local bulge or fullness. If the tumor is located on the diaphragmatic surface, the main manifestation is an elevated diaphragm and the lower edge of the liver may not be enlarged. Because the arteries of liver cancer are rich and tortuous, or because the huge tumor compresses the hepatic artery or abdominal aorta, the inner diameter of the artery suddenly narrows, and sometimes a blowing-like vascular murmur can be heard on the abdominal wall close to the tumor.

3. Jaundice

It usually occurs in the late stage and can be caused by liver cell damage, or by compression or invasion of the bile duct near the liver port by the cancer mass, or by bile duct obstruction caused by the shedding of cancer tissue and blood clots. This is also one of the clinical manifestations of liver cancer.

4. Signs of cirrhosis

Patients with liver cancer and portal hypertension associated with cirrhosis may have symptoms such as splenomegaly, ascites, and the formation of venous collateral circulation. The ascites increases rapidly and is generally transudate. Bloody ascites is often caused by cancer invading the liver capsule or rupturing into the abdominal cavity, and occasionally by peritoneal metastasis.

5. Systemic manifestations of malignant tumors

There are progressive weight loss, fever, loss of appetite, fatigue, malnutrition and cachexia. A small number of patients with liver disease may have special systemic manifestations, called paraneoplastic syndrome, with hypoglycemia and polycythemia being the most common, and other rare ones include hypercalcemia, hyperlipidemia, carcinoid, etc.

6. Symptoms of metastatic disease

If metastasis occurs to the lungs, bones, chest cavity, etc., corresponding symptoms may occur. Chest cavity metastasis is more common on the right side, and there may be signs of pleural effusion. Bone or spinal metastasis may cause local tenderness or nerve compression symptoms, and intracranial metastatic cancer may have nerve localization signs.

The above is an introduction to the clinical manifestations of liver cancer. I believe everyone should have a certain understanding of liver cancer. If you want to know more about liver cancer, please consult online experts.

For more information, please visit the liver cancer disease special website at http://www..com.cn/zhongliu/ga/ or consult an expert for free. The expert will then give a detailed answer based on the patient's specific situation.