Hepatitis and cirrhosis, causes of liver cancer

The main factor influencing the appearance of liver cancer is chronic inflammation, produced in most cases by a viral infection, of which the most important exponent at present is the hepatitis C virus. It can also be caused by the B virus and chronic alcohol intake.

Is there a treatment for liver cancer?

At present there is effective treatment to eradicate the hepatitis B virus and antiviral treatments have just been introduced against C, which are highly effective and have hardly any side effects.
It is known that the elimination of the B virus decreases the risk of developing a neoplasm progressively as time goes by. In the case of the elimination of the C virus this has not yet been demonstrated, but it is estimated that this leads to normality in terms of the inflammatory components and therefore to a drastic reduction in the risk of developing liver cancer.

In which cases can surgical treatment be resorted to?

The possibilities of surgical intervention and resection of the tumor depend on the stage of development of the tumor and the underlying disease, which is often cirrhosis. Provided that it is a single tumor in the context of a very incipient cirrhosis, this surgery will be the treatment of choice, although if there are enough liver grafts in the world, the best option would always be to perform a liver transplant, where the underlying disease and the tumor are cured at the same time.

Read Now 👉  Treatment against hemorrhoids: the mechanical circular mucosectomy of longo

What does the intervention consist of?

The intervention consists of making a resection that includes the tumor and part of the healthy tissue, to ensure wide inclusion of the lesion. It is not necessary, in most cases, to make a major intervention.

Is it possible to resort to organ transplantation?

As I have already mentioned, yes, it is possible. However, there are not enough organs in the world, and it is necessary to be very selective. Liver transplantation from a living donor is an alternative that allows immediate treatment and does not harm those who are on the waiting list.