What are the examination items after liver cancer is confirmed? Five examination items that liver cancer patients must do

Liver cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in clinical practice. According to the latest statistics, there are about 600,000 new cases of liver cancer every year in the world, ranking fifth among malignant tumors. In my country, liver cancer is even more common, so the prevention of liver cancer cannot be neglected. Regular physical examinations are an important way to effectively detect liver abnormalities at an early stage. Let's learn about the examination methods for liver cancer.

Regular physical examinations to detect signs of cancer early

For people with hepatitis B, the purpose of regular physical examinations is to find out the current status of the hepatitis B virus in their bodies, whether there is replication, whether it is high replication or low replication, whether liver function damage and cirrhosis have occurred, and to detect early micro primary liver cancer, etc. It can also determine whether antiviral treatment is needed.

For people at high risk of liver cancer, such as those with a history of hepatitis or HBsAg positivity, natural populations in high-incidence areas of liver cancer, and those with a family history of liver cancer, a physical examination should be conducted every 6 months, including liver function, HBVDNA, alpha-fetoprotein and liver ultrasound tests. If active hepatitis, cirrhosis changes, or liver cancer are found, active treatment should be initiated.

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFp), B-ultrasound, and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging can all effectively detect cancer. Among them, serum alpha-fetoprotein detection combined with liver ultrasound examination is currently an economical, practical and effective method for early liver cancer screening.

Introduction to liver cancer screening methods

1. Alpha-fetoprotein test

It is an immunological method to detect embryonic antigens, which is one of the most specific methods for diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma. It is relatively accurate in diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma. For patients without other evidence of liver cancer, negative (α-Fp) countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis or quantitative greater than 500 ng/ml for more than one month, and who can exclude pregnancy and active liver function diseases, gonadal embryonic tumors, etc., hepatocellular carcinoma can be diagnosed.

2. Ultrasound examination

Ultrasound examination can be used for liver cancer examination. Type B ultrasound examination should be used. The examination can provide detailed information about the size, shape and location of the tumor lesion, and can also determine whether there is a cancer thrombus in the hepatic vein or portal vein. Its diagnostic consistency rate is relatively high, reaching 84%. It can detect tumor lesions with a diameter of 2 cm or less. It is the most commonly used treatment method and has a good positioning value.

3. CT detection

The resolution is high and it can detect early liver cancer with a diameter of about one centimeter. Enhanced scanning can help distinguish it from hemangioma. The diagnostic accuracy rate for liver cancer is as high as 90%. However, it is expensive and has not yet been widely used.

4. X-ray examination

X-ray examination is a very common method for liver cancer examination. Through abdominal fluoroscopy or plain film examination, it can be found that the liver shadow has expanded. For tumor lesions located in the right lobe of the liver, examination often shows that the right diaphragm is elevated, the movement is restricted or there is a localized bulge. For tumors located in the left lobe of the liver or larger liver tumors, X-ray barium meal examination can show that the stomach and transverse colon are pushed.

5. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

Magnetic resonance imaging is a 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.