What are Liver Lesions?
Liver lesions are described as abnormal areas of cells in the lever that can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Your doctor may also refer to these lesions as a mass or tumor. If benign, these lesions will typically not spread and don’t usually cause further health issues.
Causes of Liver Lesions:
Liver lesions can be caused by various factors and may or may not be accompanied by symptoms. Liver lesions can result from benign tumors like hemangiomas and hepatic adenomas, liver cysts, focal nodular hyperplasia, malignant tumors like hepatocellular carcinoma and metastatic tumors from other cancers that may be occurring in the body.
You’re also more likely to develop liver lesions if you have a viral infection such as hepatitis B or C, which are the main cause of liver cancer. Liver lesions can also be the result of cirrhosis. Additionally, obesity, arsenic, aflatoxin (mold that grows on grain and nuts, and is very rare in the US), and iron storage disease, like hemochromatosis, can also contribute to the development of liver lesions.
Symptoms of Liver Lesions:
When it comes to identifying symptoms of liver lesions, it’s not uncommon for patients to have no indication of these lesions being present in or on their liver. Some patients and doctors, however, observe abdominal pain or discomfort, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), unexplained weight loss, fatigue, and nausea or vomiting. Bloating and fever may also accompany other symptoms.
Diagnosing Liver Lesions:
In diagnosing a liver lesion, your doctor may start imaging to get a better look at that specific area of your abdomen. Imaging tests can include ultrasounds, CT scans, or MRIs. Your doctor may also want a biopsy to examine a sample of soft tissue from the liver. Blood tests are often taken in conjunction with these diagnostic efforts, too, along with liver function tests.
Treating Liver Lesions:
Treatment for liver lesions will vary. In the case of benign lesions, treatment may not be required, and your doctor may want to simply monitor the lesion over time. In other cases, medication may be prescribed to shrink or manage the lesion. It’s important to note that surgical removal of the lesion may be necessary, especially in the event your care team finds a malignant tumor.
Other option your doctor may consider includes ablation therapy, which involves destroying the lesion using techniques like radiofrequency ablation or microwave ablation. In more severe cases of liver disease or cancer, a liver transplant may be considered.
It’s essential to consult a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and treatment if you have liver lesions. Treatment options will depend heavily on the type of lesion, the size, location and whether it’s causing symptoms or complications.