How to detect liver cancer early? 7 clinical methods for diagnosing liver cancer

Current clinical diagnosis methods for liver cancer

The main methods include the determination of alpha-fetoprotein (AFp), a serum marker for liver cancer, and medical imaging examinations, such as ultrasound, CT, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). AFp abnormalities can occur earlier than imaging and clinical symptoms, and are relatively specific for diagnosing liver cancer. However, it is worth noting that about 30% of liver cancer patients have negative AFp values, which means that normal AFp values ​​cannot completely rule out the possibility of liver cancer. The development of modern medical imaging has enabled the localization diagnosis of small liver cancers of 1 to 2 cm, providing the possibility for early detection of liver cancer. AFp determination, combined with ultrasound examination, is currently the main means of screening people at high risk of liver cancer. It is worth mentioning that the liver function generally referred to is not very helpful for the diagnosis of liver cancer, because the liver function of liver cancer patients may be normal.

Risk Factors for Liver Cancer

The "culprit" of liver cancer is the cause of the disease. In fact, people insist on investing a lot of energy in studying these causes, just to do a good job of prevention from the source, so as to achieve the purpose of reducing the incidence. According to the analysis of a large amount of research data at home and abroad, it is believed that the causes of liver cancer are mainly caused by the following seven "crimes":

1. Water pollution:

Severe pollution of drinking water is one of the important causes of liver cancer, especially polluted ditch water, followed by river water, and well water is the lowest. Therefore, in villages without tap water facilities, drinking well water should be encouraged.

2. Viral hepatitis:

It is mainly caused by hepatitis B and C virus infection, especially hepatitis B and hepatitis B virus carriers, whose incidence of primary liver cancer is 2 to 100 times higher than that of normal people. In areas with a high incidence of liver cancer, about 20% of people may be hepatitis B or hepatitis B virus carriers.

3. Aflatoxin (AFT):

Aflatoxin B is the most important carcinogen. It is suitable for growing and reproducing in high temperature and high humidity climates, especially in summer, when moldy food, grains, and feed are most likely to be contaminated by Aspergillus flavus and produce aflatoxin. Long-term consumption of food containing this toxin can induce liver cancer.

4. Chemical carcinogens:

The chemical substances that can cause liver cancer are mainly N-nitroso compounds, such as nitrosamines and nitrosamides, etc. In addition, pesticides, alcohol, safrole, etc. can also induce liver cancer.

5. Gene mutation:

Others believe that mutagens and viruses in the environment stimulate the activation of liver cell division response pathways, causing point mutations and gene translocations in cells, which are possible factors that accelerate the proliferation of cancer cells.

6. Immune status:

Some people believe that the plasma of liver cancer patients contains a blocking factor that can inhibit cellular immunity and protect liver cancer cells from being killed by immune cells. Studies have shown that alpha-fetoprotein (AFp) can inhibit the phagocytosis of lymphocytes and macrophages.

7. Complex factors:

Overnutrition (macronutrients) or nutritional deficiency (such as vitamin A, B1 deficiency), hemochromatosis, parasitic infection and heredity are also risk factors for liver cancer.