What Is Liver Cancer?
A CT scan picture of a primary liver cancer
A liver riddled with multiple secondary cancer deposits
Liver cancer is defined as cancer arising from the liver. It is also known as primary liver cancer, hepatoma or hepatocellular carcinoma as compared to secondary deposits of cancer cells in the liver from other sources in the body . The liver is made up of a great number of cell types, for example liver cells, bile ducts, blood vessels, or the supporting stromal cells. However the actual liver cell makes up about 80% of liver tissue. Thus the majority of liver cancers arise from the liver cells themselves and are thus called hepatocellular carcinoma.
However, when a person speaks of liver cancer, what he often is referring to is secondary cancer, that is, cancer that has spread to the liver from the surrounding organs by way of the blood stream, or by direct spread from adjoining organs. Secondary liver cancer (the primaries being usually from the intestines, stomach, pancreas, breasts and lungs) is far more common than primary cancer.