What Are The Symptoms Of Liver Cancer?

Posted on Tue, 16 Aug 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 16 Aug 2016 Answered on

Tue, 6 Sep 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : Please tell me the symptoms of liver cancer.
My email is YYYYY @aol.com

Answered by Dr. Shailja Puri (31 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Weight loss, low appetite & other features depending on underlying cause.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query on Health Care Magic.

Live cancer commonly presents with constitutional symptoms like weight loss and decreased appetite.

If the liver cancer develops on a background of liver cirrhosis, jaundice may be present.

If liver cancer develops on a background of hepatitis, jaundice is always present, liver enzymes are elevated and viral markers like hepatitis B antigen, hepatitis C antigen are positive.

On Ultrasonography of abdomen, liver may be enlarged in case of hepatitis or may be shrunken with multiple nodules in case of cirrhosis.

Many a times, ascitis - accumulation of fluid in abdominal cavity may also occur.
Features of liver failure like low proteins, prolonged prothrombin time, low albumin, low vitamin K etc can also occur.

If you have more queries, I will be glad to assist you.

Thanks
Dr Shailja Puri

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee