In: Nursing
Hepatocellular carcinoma, what is it? Risk increase with which group of patients? Where do they tend to invade?
WHAT IS HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer. Hepatocellular carcinoma occurs most often in people with chronic liver diseases, such as cirrhosis caused by hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection
Hepatocellular carcinoma is a cancer that starts in your liver. It's different from "secondary" liver cancers, which have spread to the liver from other organs.
If caught early, it can sometimes be cured with surgery or transplant. In more advanced cases it can’t be cured, but treatment and support can help you live longer and better.
It's important to remember that you still have control over the decisions you make about your treatment and your life. Make sure you have people you can talk to about your plans, your fears, and your feelings. Ask your doctor about support groups, where you can meet people who know what you're going through.
RISK INCREASES WITH WHICH GROUP OF PATIENTS
Heavy alcohol consumption can lead to the development of cirrhosis, which in turn increases the risk for HCC. 2 Ciga- rette smoking is becoming more recognized as a potential factor in the development of liver cancer. The relative risk for liver cancer is 1.51 for current smokers versus those who have never smoked.
Even the presence of hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) in the absence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA is significantly related to an increased risk for HCC, although surveillance for HCC is not recommended in the affected group unless cirrhosis is present. In the United States, the estimated annual incidence of HCC in patients infected with hepatitis B is 818 cases per 100,000 persons.
WHERE DO THEY TEND TO INVADE
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly invasive malignancy that frequently invades small and large blood vessels, the liver sub- stance, and bile ducts.
Tumoral macrovascular invasion (MVI) of hepatic and/or portal vein branches is a common phenomenon in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and is associated with poorer prognosis when compared to HCC without MVI.