Primary Liver Cancer

Primary Liver Cancer

Primary liver cancer is quite rare in the UK and the rest of the western world, but the number of people developing it is increasing. Approximately 1500 people are diagnosed with this type of cancer each year in the UK. In other parts of the world, such as tropical Africa and some parts of Asia, it is one of the most common cancers. It is twice as common in men as in women.

There are two different types of primary liver cancer. The most common kind is called hepatoma or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and arises from the main cells of the liver (the hepatocytes). This type is usually confined to the liver, although occasionally it spreads to other organs. It occurs mostly in people with a liver disease called cirrhosis (see Causes, below). There is also a rarer sub-type of hepatoma called Fibrolamellar hepatoma, which may occur in younger people and is not related to previous liver disease.

The other type of primary liver cancer is called cholangiocarcinoma or bile duct cancer, because it starts in the cells lining the bile ducts.

Some primary tumours in the liver are non-cancerous (benign) and do not spread to other parts of the body. They are usually small and may cause no symptoms, and are often discovered by chance during operations or investigations for other conditions. Unless they are causing symptoms they do not usually need to be removed.