How can high-risk groups detect liver cancer early? Liver cancer patients should know the significance of liver function tests

How can high-risk groups detect liver cancer early?

Zhao Yingjun was ultimately unable to welcome the arrival of spring. Yesterday, on the beginning of spring, Zhao Yingjun's relatives and friends issued an obituary, stating that Zhao Yingjun died in Beijing at 14:33 on February 3, 2021 due to ineffective treatment of liver cancer. He was 43 years old.

Zhao Yingjun's family posted a long article on his Weibo account, saying: "This is the last short essay he left to this world." In the article, Zhao Yingjun said that after more than two years of fighting, he still lost to cancer. The article fully expressed his attachment to and reluctance to leave this world, and it makes people cry after reading it.

He himself was suffering from cancer, and the last song he created was for an anti-cancer movie. Today is World Cancer Day. It all seems like a coincidence. We are deeply saddened by the passing of a vibrant, creative, and spiritual young musician.

As a common cancer, 50% of the world's new liver cancer cases come from China, and the mortality rate of liver cancer in my country ranks second among all cancer mortality rates. So, how can we detect this cancer early?

1. High-risk groups

1. Infection with hepatitis B virus and/or hepatitis C virus;

2. Excessive drinking habits;

3. Non-alcoholic fatty hepatitis;

4. Long-term consumption of food contaminated with aflatoxin;

5. Liver cirrhosis caused by various other reasons;

6. People with a family history of liver cancer;

7. Among men with the above risk factors, those aged >40 are at greater risk.

2. Common liver cancer examination items:

1. Liver function test: This is a routine examination and an important reference for many liver diseases. However, there is generally no problem with the liver function of liver cancer patients. If the liver cancer patient has severe cirrhosis, the liver function will be abnormal. Severe liver function damage is generally seen in patients with advanced liver cancer.

2. Tumor marker test

(1) Alpha-fetoprotein: This item is essential for the prevention of liver cancer. It is an important indicator for the diagnosis of primary liver cancer and is of great significance in early diagnosis, differentiation, and confirmation of diagnosis. Alpha-fetoprotein testing can help people detect liver cancer in its early stages, block the development of the disease in time, and improve the patient's survival rate.

(2) Serum ferritin: This is a test second only to alpha-fetoprotein serum markers. Because the virus in the liver cancer patient's body can cause liver tissue necrosis, the ferritin that should be in the liver enters the blood. The higher the ferritin test value, the more serious the disease. The accuracy rate of hemoferritin in diagnosing liver cancer is as high as 50%-90%.

3. Serum determination

(1) Alkaline phosphatase (AKp): The alkaline phosphatase in the serum samples of liver cancer patients mostly shows an upward trend. When the alkaline phosphatase exceeds 20 units and no jaundice occurs, it indicates that we may have liver cancer.

2) r-GT (glutamyl transpeptidase): The accuracy rate is about 95%. The increase in this indicator mainly comes from the liver cancer virus itself.

Although cancer is terrible, if it can be detected early, we still have a considerable chance of winning. It is particularly important to change bad habits and have regular screening. Without health, everything will eventually return to zero!

Analysis of the significance of liver function tests

The liver is the largest substantial organ in the human body, and is responsible for complex and diverse physiological functions, including synthesis, metabolism, transport and excretion. When various factors cause liver cell damage or intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile duct obstruction, it can cause abnormal metabolism of various substances in liver cells (such as protein, fat, sugar, bilirubin and bile acid, etc.). On the other hand, due to increased permeability of liver cell membranes or damage to membrane structure, intracellular enzymes overflow, leading to changes in liver-related metabolites and acid content in the blood.

Liver function tests for liver cancer patients: help to understand the severity of liver damage and choose a reasonable treatment plan; assist in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of liver cancer; predict whether it will recur after surgical resection, and judge the prognosis. Commonly used liver function tests in clinical practice mainly include bilirubin metabolism, protein metabolism, enzyme metabolism and dye excretion tests. Specific items include serum bilirubin, albumin/globulin, protein electrophoresis, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT), prothrombin time, etc.

1. Bilirubin Elevated serum bilirubin often indicates active liver disease, obstructive jaundice or advanced stage of the disease. Patients with total bilirubin>30μmol/L should not undergo surgery; those with total bilirubin>20μmol/L should be cautious when performing large liver cancer resection.

2. Albumin/globulin absolute value The absolute value of albumin reflects the total number of effective liver cells, which is obviously exposed when the liver is chronically and severely damaged. The normal value of albumin is 35-55g/L.

3. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ALT abnormality often reflects liver parenchymal cell damage or massive tumor necrosis. ALT in tumor patients is significantly elevated, and the surgical mortality rate is also significantly increased.

4. γ-glutamate transpeptidase (γ-GT) When liver cancer is huge and there are extensive tumor thrombi in the portal vein, and liver function is abnormal, γ-GT is significantly elevated, which has a great impact on surgery or prognosis.

5. Prothrombin time (pT) A significant prolongation of pT indicates severe liver damage and a poor prognosis. Surgery is not recommended when pT is 50% lower than the normal value.