What are the methods for checking liver disease? Introducing several common treatments for liver cancer

What are the examinations and treatments for liver cancer? There are many different methods for both examination and treatment of liver cancer. You can choose the most suitable one according to your specific situation. Here, we will take stock of the commonly used examination methods and treatments for liver cancer. Let's take a look at them together.

Common examination methods for liver cancer

Alpha-fetoprotein assay: This diagnostic method uses an immune method to determine the production of embryonic antigens, and is currently one of the most effective methods for diagnosing this disease. If no other evidence of liver cancer is found, the positive α-Fp countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis method is greater than 500ng/ml and lasts for more than one month, active liver cancer and pregnancy are excluded, and gonadal embryonic tumors are excluded, liver cancer can be diagnosed.

Liver ultrasound examination: This is a non-invasive examination that is simple to operate, intuitive and convenient, accurate and non-invasive, low-cost, widely available, and does not cause any harm to human tissue. It can be used for liver cancer screening and follow-up after treatment.

CT: CT is a very important method for liver cancer examination, and it is widely used in China. However, when the diameter of liver cancer is less than 2 cm or the density is close to that of normal liver parenchyma, it is difficult to show it on CT. Liver cancer is diffuse and difficult to detect on CT; it is difficult to distinguish between primary and secondary liver cancer.

Blood enzyme examination: The serum γ-glutamyl transpeptidase level of patients with this disease is higher than that of normal people. The lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme and alkaline phosphatase are also higher than those of normal people. However, this diagnosis lacks specificity and is therefore only used as an auxiliary diagnosis.

MRI examination: It can effectively improve the detection rate of small liver cancer and is very helpful in distinguishing focal hyperplastic nodules of the liver, hepatic adenomas, etc. It can be used as an important supplementary method for CT examination.

Magnetic resonance imaging: It is a type of examination method that has developed rapidly in recent years. In the past, MRI was not as ideal as CT examination. Now, with the continuous development of MRI technology, the scanning time is getting faster and faster, and the resolution is getting higher and higher. It can also make a relatively accurate judgment for some small lesions in the liver. Now MRI also plays a very important role in the examination of liver cancer.

In the meantime, what is the treatment for liver cancer?

Conventional treatments for liver cancer

Surgical treatment: Surgery is the first choice and the most effective method for treating liver cancer. Surgical methods include radical liver resection, palliative liver resection, etc.

Chemotherapy: When the tumor is found to be unresectable during laparotomy, or as a follow-up treatment for tumor metastasis and resection, regional chemoembolization can be performed by placing a pump (subcutaneous implantation infusion device) in the hepatic artery and/or portal vein. For those who are expected to be unresectable by surgery, radiation therapy can also be performed. Selective catheterization is performed through the femoral artery to the hepatic artery, and embolic agents (commonly used such as iodized oil) and anticancer drugs are injected for chemoembolization. Some patients can thus get the opportunity for surgical resection.

Radiotherapy: For patients with good general condition, good liver function, no cirrhosis, no jaundice, ascites, hypersplenism and esophageal varices, relatively localized cancer, no distant metastasis, and who are not suitable for surgical resection or have recurrence after surgery, comprehensive treatment with radiotherapy as the main method can be used.

This is also the examination and treatment method for liver cancer, for your reference only.