Primary Tests for Liver Cancer Diagnosis

Posted in: Liver Cancer Treatment by Dr. Tarang Krishna Posted Date: 06 Feb, 2017

Diseases like Liver Cancer are best treated when diagnosed in early stages. This helps a doctor to bring an effective cure, after affirming the nature, size, stage and spread of the disease.

For treating cancer, a doctor first suggests Blood Tests, Imaging, and Bone scans, which leads to correct liver cancer diagnosis. Other then size and spread, a patient's age and hereditary factors play a major role in determining correct treatment.

Let’s first know about Symptoms of Liver Cancer:

1) Unaccounted Weight loss

2) Loss of appetite

3) Nausea

4) Swelling in the liver and feeling of a mass under the ribs

5) Pain in the abdomen area

6) Swelling or fluid build-up in the abdomen

7) Itching

8) Jaundice 

Tests for Liver Cancer Diagnosis

After checking the symptoms, it becomes necessary for a doctor to conduct these tests, which helps in choosing correct liver cancer treatment.

Blood Tests:

The first test that a doctor suggests when he suspects Liver Cancer is Blood tests. A sample of blood is collected and different factors are delibrated to find out about the nature of the abnormalities. Few common types of blood tests are as follows:

1) Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP)

2) Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)

3) Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)

4) Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)

5) Gamma-glutamyl transferase (Gamma-GT)

Imaging Tests:

A doctor recommends imaging tests to get inside picture of the organ, which helps to know about the spread of the tumor. These tests are as follows:

Ultrasound scan

An ultrasound scan includes the application of sound waves to image the disease.

CT scan

A Computed tomography(CT) scan is a Xray test to find out cross-sectional images of the Liver.

MRI scan

An MRI scan creates pictures using magnetism and radio waves. It is an advanced test for liver cancer diagnosis.

Biopsy

In a biopsy, a part of the liver is removed as a sample to study under a microscope. This gives an elaborate idea about the disease.

Other Tests

Laparoscopy

A test in where a small operation is conducted in the abdomen area to have a clear look at the liver. At times the tumor is spread in the parts, which are difficult to image; this test is effective for those cases.

Bone scan

Liver cancer tends to spread to other parts of the body including bones. Few symptoms bring suspicion to the doctor about the spread of disease and therefore, they suggest a bone scan to a liver cancer patient.

To know more about liver cancer and immunotherapy treatment, consult Cancer Healer Center.

About The Author

Dr. Tarang Krishna

Dr. Tarang Krishna, Director at Cancer Healer Center, is the perfect epitome of perseverance and dedication.

He has an impressive educational background to his credit. He completed his under-graduation in Medicine and Surgery from Pune, India and did his MD (Hom) from Agra University, India.Thesis on MD was on "Treatment of cancer" where he presented cases of almost 100 patients and the response of the medicines in the treatment of cancer. He then completed his Ph.d in Oncology from the United Kingdom and his thesis on the ‘Efficacy of Medicines in the Treatment of Cancer’ is greatly commemorated and honored.

He befittingly represents alternate medicine and has contributed significantly towards the development and research of immunotherapy.

Through his nationwide chain of “Cancer Healer Center” clinics he strives to offer superior cancer treatment, using immunotherapy.