Metastatic liver cancer are tumors that have spread to the liver from other parts of the body.

CAUSE
Metastatic Malignant tumors are generally derived from lung, breast, colon, pancreas and stomach. Leukemia and other blood cell cancers (eg lymphoma), can also spread to the liver. Sometimes the discovery of metastatic liver tumors is an indication of other cancers in patients.

SYMPTOMS
Early symptoms are often in the form of weight loss and reduced appetite. Liver becomes large, hard and blunt. Fever may also occur. Sometimes the spleen is also enlarged, especially if derived from pancreatic cancer. Stretched abdominal cavity, because filled with fluid (ascites). If the cancer is blocking the bile duct, there is no jaundice or there is a mild jaundice.

In a few weeks before the patient died, jaundice will get worse. Patients also will lose consciousness and sleepiness due to toxins accumulated in the brain (hepatic encephalopathy).

Diagnosis
In the later stages, metastatic liver cancer will be diagnosed more easily when compared with early-stage cancer. Ultrasound, CT scan and MRI can indicate the presence of liver cancer, but not always able to find small tumors or distinguish a tumor from cirrhosis and other diseases.

Often tumors cause abnormal liver function, the which can be known from the examination of blood. Liver biopsy may confirm the diagnosis in approximately 75% of cases.
To help get cancer of the liver tissue, can be guided by ultrasound or laparoscopy.

TREATMENT
Depending on the type, anti-cancer drugs can temporarily reduce tumor size and prolong survival, but does not cure the cancer completely. Anti-cancer drugs can be injected into the hepatic artery, which will flow in a high concentration of drug directly to cancer cells in the liver.

This technique is more likely to shrink tumors and cause fewer side effects, but has not been shown to prolong survival. Radiation therapy (radiation) can sometimes reduce the severe pain, but not very effective. If it is found only one tumor, can be removed surgically, especially if the cancer comes from the gut. For widespread cancer, which can do is reduce the symptoms it causes.