Liver Cancer Information
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Cancer that starts in the tissues of the liver (the largest organ within the body) is called primary liver cancer. When cancer spreads to the liver from another part of the body (e.g., lung, breast, colon, pancreas), it is called secondary liver cancer (metastatic cancer).
According to the National Cancer Institute, though cancer of the liver is a rare malignancy in the United States, it is common in some countries in Asia and the Middle East. In the United States, the average age at onset is approximately 60 years old. The disease occurs more frequently in males than females by a ratio of 2 to 1.
There is a strong association between chronic hepatitis B and C viral infections and the development of heptaocellular (liver cell or HCC) carcinoma, which accounts for about two-thirds of all liver cancers. People with cirrhosis also have an increased risk of liver cancer. Other possible hepatocarcinogens include aflatoxin, nitrosamines, oral estrogen compounds, and numerous other chemicals. Certain molds that grow on stored foods are recognized risk factors in parts of Africa and Asia.
About one in five liver cancers is a cholangiocarcinoma, arising from branches of the bile ducts that are located within the liver. Certain liver parasites are recognized risk factors for this type of liver cancer, especially in parts of Southeast Asia. Angiosarcomas are rare cancers that can arise from blood vessels, including the blood vessels within the liver. They account for about one percent of primary liver cancers. Some angiosarcomas have been associated with industrial exposures to vinyl chloride.
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