LIVER METASTASIS

Secondary tumors

The liver is the most frequent site of localization of metastases, that is, of tumor cells that detach from tumors born in another organ and that, especially through the blood, reach the liver and multiply there. This occurs in about 30% of all malignant tumors that develop in the body and in about 50% of those involving the abdominal organs. The liver can also be invaded by tumors of adjacent organs (for example, of the right kidney. ).
The main feature of the metastatic liver is a noticeable increase in its volume, which develops rapidly.The organ becomes palpable and the irregularity of the surface can be appreciated, due to the presence of many nodules, and the particularly hard consistency. There may be pain, fever and, sooner or later, jaundice appears. In about 20% of cases there is an increase in the volume of the spleen.
The diagnosis is usually made with instrumental examinations: ultrasound, CT, angiography, liver biopsy.
Surgical therapy is reserved for those few cases in which metastases affect only a small portion of the liver and / or are numerically limited.

In the remaining cases, local ablative treatments with radiofrequency and chemoembolization through arterial catheter (TACE), and / or targeted local chemotherapy interventions may be attempted.