What are the symptoms after liver cancer metastasis

The metastasis of liver cancer can be divided into intrahepatic metastasis and extrahepatic metastasis. Since there are many abundant blood sinusoids in the liver, intrahepatic metastasis is the most common. Most liver cancer patients can have intrahepatic metastasis in the early stage. Liver cancer cells invade the portal vein branches to form cancer thrombi. The blockage of cancer thrombi causes portal hypertension and refractory ascites. Extrahepatic metastasis is more common in the late stage of liver cancer. It is because cancer cells enter the systemic circulation after invading the hepatic vein and infiltrate and implant to various parts of the body, which may involve the lungs, bones, adrenal glands, peritoneum, lymph nodes (porta hepatis, upper abdomen or retroperitoneum, etc.). When cancer cells metastasize to the bones, it can cause local pain and pathological fractures; when metastases to the spine, it can cause paraplegia due to compression of the spinal nerves. When extrahepatic metastasis occurs, the organ to which it is metastasized can cause pain in the area of ​​that organ.

Extrahepatic metastasis is mainly hematogenous, and is more common in the late stage of liver cancer. About 50-70% of metastases are to the lungs, followed by the adrenal glands, bones, brain, kidneys and other organs. Lymph node metastasis is most common to the hilar lymph nodes, and clinical manifestations such as jaundice and fever may occur. The corresponding symptoms at the site of tumor metastasis can sometimes be the basis for the discovery of liver cancer.

The main symptoms of liver cancer metastasis are:

1. Cough and hemoptysis:

Tumor metastasis to the lungs can cause coughing and hemoptysis.

2. Bloody pleural effusion:

Local metastasis is most common to the hilar lymph nodes, but can also metastasize to the supraclavicular, para-aortic, pancreatic, splenic lymph nodes, etc. Pleural metastasis can cause pleural effusion or hemothorax in the pleural lymph nodes, which can be easily misdiagnosed as tuberculous pleurisy.

3. Lower limb edema:

Cancer embolism to the pulmonary artery or branches can cause pulmonary infarction, sudden severe dyspnea and chest pain. Cancer embolism to the inferior vena cava can cause severe edema of the lower limbs and even a drop in blood pressure. Blockage of the hepatic vein can cause Budd-Chiari syndrome.

4. Pain:

Cancer metastasis to the bone can cause local pain, which is characterized by intermittent pain that gradually changes to continuous pain and progressively worsens. The surface of the bone at the metastatic site protrudes outward, and pathological fractures may occur in the later stage. Patients with bone metastasis often seek medical treatment due to pain. When liver cancer patients complain of bone pain and bone metastasis is suspected, they should be carefully examined. Among liver cancer bone metastases, spinal metastasis is the most common, with lumbar metastasis being the most common. If it metastasizes to the spine or compresses the spinal nerves, it can cause local pain and paraplegia. Intracranial metastasis can cause neuropathic signs such as hemiplegia.

If metastatic liver cancer is found, further tests should be done as soon as possible to find out the primary tumor and whether it has spread to other parts outside the liver. This is important for the treatment and recovery of liver cancer patients and for choosing appropriate symptomatic treatment methods.

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