Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Are Liver Lesions?CausesSymptomsDiagnosisTreatmentPreventionPrognosis
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Are Liver Lesions?
Causes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Prognosis
Liver lesions, also known as liver tumors or masses, are abnormal growths of cells in theliver. The majority are benign (non-cancerous) and often don’t require treatment. But, in some cases, liver lesions are a sign of a serious problem, like cancer, requiring immediate medical treatment.
This article discusses the different types of benign and cancerous liver lesions, including their causes and symptoms. It also explains how liver tumors are diagnosed and treated.
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Liver lesions are the abnormal growth of cells in the liver. There are many different types of cells in the liver that can evolve into lesions. The most common arehepatocytes, which account for 80% of the mass of the liver.
For reasons poorly understood, liver cells can suddenly change and multiply into a cohesive mass. The tumors are described asbenignif they are non-cancerous ormalignantif they are cancerous.
One of the main differences between the two is that benign tumors do not spread while malignant ones do.
Hepatic (Liver) Adenoma Formation and Treatment
Benign Liver Lesions
Cancerous Liver Lesions
Liver cancer accounts for roughly 2% of all primary cancers in the United States.
The most common liver cancers include:
Can Benign Liver Tumors Turn Cancerous?Some types of benign liver tumors have the potential to turn cancerous. Studies suggest that around 5% of people with hepatocellular adenoma will experience disease progression and eventually be diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma.Although hepatocellular adenoma is more common in females, males are around 10 more times likely to experience cancer transformation.
Can Benign Liver Tumors Turn Cancerous?
Some types of benign liver tumors have the potential to turn cancerous. Studies suggest that around 5% of people with hepatocellular adenoma will experience disease progression and eventually be diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma.Although hepatocellular adenoma is more common in females, males are around 10 more times likely to experience cancer transformation.
Some types of benign liver tumors have the potential to turn cancerous. Studies suggest that around 5% of people with hepatocellular adenoma will experience disease progression and eventually be diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma.
Although hepatocellular adenoma is more common in females, males are around 10 more times likely to experience cancer transformation.
Causes of Liver Lesions
Although the cause of liver lesions is unknown, they are thought to be due to genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors that cause cells to suddenly replicate abnormally.
Certain factors can increase the risk of benign or malignant liver tumors, including:
Causes and Risk Factors of Liver Cancer
Symptoms of Liver Lesions
Benign liver tumors are not usually problematic, while malignant liver tumors inherently are. The symptoms can vary significantly, and, in some cases, there may be no symptoms at all.
Benign liver tumors usually do not cause any symptoms or require treatment. It is only when they become large that they can press on adjacent organs and cause chronic abdominal pain.
Hepatocellular adenomas over 5 millimeters (mm) can also sometimes rupture and bleed into the abdominal cavity. The rupture of the tumor can cause severe abdominal pain but is rarely life-threatening. Severe cases may need treatment in a hospital to stem the bleeding.
Symtoms of liver cancer include:
Symptoms of Liver Cancer
The diagnostic process for a liver tumor is largely the same whether the mass is thought to be cancerous or non-cancerous.
Thereafter, the healthcare provider will order tests to not only check for suspected causes but rule out more serious causes, like cancer.
The tests and procedures may include:
If there are indications of cancer, your healthcare provider will order abiopsyto obtain a sample of tissue to evaluate in the lab. This is generally the only definitive way to diagnose cancer.
Options include:
Many benign liver tumors don’t need treatment—and never will. By comparison, malignant liver tumors always do.
Examples include the following:
The treatment of liver cancer varies based on the cancer type and stage as well as thecancer grade(a measurement of how normal or abnormal the cancer cells are).
Liver cancer treatment may involve:
Prevention of Liver Tumors
Not all liver lesions can be prevented, particularly benign ones. But there are certain steps you can take to avoid liver cancer, especially if you have risk factors for the disease.
These include:
Outlook for Liver Lesions
If you have been diagnosed with a benign liver tumor, theprognosis(likely outcome) is generally good. Many benign tumors require no treatment and will never cause you any problems.
With that said, people with hepatocellular adenoma should be monitored regularly due to the potential for liver cancer.Oral contraceptives may also need to be stopped.
If liver cancer is diagnosed, the prognosis varies based on the stage of the disease. The current five-year survival rate (meaning the percentage of treated people who live at least five years following their diagnosis) is:
Summary
Liver lesions are the abnormal growth of liver cells. These lesions, also known as tumors or masses, may be non-cancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). While uncommon, some types of benign liver tumors can become cancerous.
Benign liver lesions tend to grow slowly, have defined borders, do not invade other organs, and generally do not need to be treated unless they cause pain or bleeding.
Liver cancer grows rapidly and erratically, can invade other organs, and needs treatment in the form of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and others.
18 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Canadian Society of Intestinal Research.The liver; an amazing organ.Patel A.Benign vs malignant tumors.JAMA Oncol. 2020;6(9):1488. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2020.2592Pacasil SJ, Noor M, Leyva A.A review of benign hepatic tumors and their imaging characteristics.Cureus.2020 Jan;12(1):e6813. doi:10.7759/cureus.6813National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancer.National Cancer Institute.Primary liver cancer treatment (PDQ).Van Rosmalen BV, Furumaya A, Komoenhouwer AJ.Hepatocellular adenoma in men: a nationwide assessment of pathology and correlation with clinical course.Liver Int.2021 Oct;41(10):2474–2484. doi:10.1111/liv.14989Cancer Research UK.Risks and causes of liver cancer.Zhang XT, Ren WD, Song G, Xiao YJ, Sun FF, Wang N.Infantile hepatic hemangiomas associated with high-output cardiac failure and pulmonary hypertension.BMC Cardiovasc Disord.2019;19:216. doi:10.1186/s12872-019-1200-6Cakir C.Non-traumatic spontaneous ruptured hepatocellular adenoma after selective transcatheter arterial chemo-embolization for reduction of tumor mass: a case report.Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg.2022 Feb;28(2):225–228. doi:10.14744/tjtes.2020.94838National Cancer Institute.Liver cancer diagnosis.Oldhafer KJ, Habbel V, Horling K, Makridis G, Wagner KC.Benign liver tumors.Visc Med. 2020 Aug;36(4):292-303. doi:10.1159/000509145American Cancer Society.Treating liver cancer.Schille S, Harris A, Link-Gelles R, Romero J, Ward J, Nelson N.Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for use of a hepatitis B vaccine with a novel adjuvant.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2018 Apr 20;67(15):455-8.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Alcohol and health - frequently asked questions; what does moderate drinking mean?World Health Organization.No level of alcohol is safe for our health.American Lung Association.Tobacco cessation treatment: what is covered?AASLD-IDSA HCV Guidance Panel.Hepatitis C guidance 2018 update: AASLD-IDSA recommendations for testing, managing, and treating hepatitis C virus infection.Clin Infect Dis.2018:67(10):1477-92. doi:10.1093/cid/ciy585MD Anderson Cancer Center.Hepatitis C and liver cancer: what to know.
18 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Canadian Society of Intestinal Research.The liver; an amazing organ.Patel A.Benign vs malignant tumors.JAMA Oncol. 2020;6(9):1488. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2020.2592Pacasil SJ, Noor M, Leyva A.A review of benign hepatic tumors and their imaging characteristics.Cureus.2020 Jan;12(1):e6813. doi:10.7759/cureus.6813National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancer.National Cancer Institute.Primary liver cancer treatment (PDQ).Van Rosmalen BV, Furumaya A, Komoenhouwer AJ.Hepatocellular adenoma in men: a nationwide assessment of pathology and correlation with clinical course.Liver Int.2021 Oct;41(10):2474–2484. doi:10.1111/liv.14989Cancer Research UK.Risks and causes of liver cancer.Zhang XT, Ren WD, Song G, Xiao YJ, Sun FF, Wang N.Infantile hepatic hemangiomas associated with high-output cardiac failure and pulmonary hypertension.BMC Cardiovasc Disord.2019;19:216. doi:10.1186/s12872-019-1200-6Cakir C.Non-traumatic spontaneous ruptured hepatocellular adenoma after selective transcatheter arterial chemo-embolization for reduction of tumor mass: a case report.Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg.2022 Feb;28(2):225–228. doi:10.14744/tjtes.2020.94838National Cancer Institute.Liver cancer diagnosis.Oldhafer KJ, Habbel V, Horling K, Makridis G, Wagner KC.Benign liver tumors.Visc Med. 2020 Aug;36(4):292-303. doi:10.1159/000509145American Cancer Society.Treating liver cancer.Schille S, Harris A, Link-Gelles R, Romero J, Ward J, Nelson N.Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for use of a hepatitis B vaccine with a novel adjuvant.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2018 Apr 20;67(15):455-8.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Alcohol and health - frequently asked questions; what does moderate drinking mean?World Health Organization.No level of alcohol is safe for our health.American Lung Association.Tobacco cessation treatment: what is covered?AASLD-IDSA HCV Guidance Panel.Hepatitis C guidance 2018 update: AASLD-IDSA recommendations for testing, managing, and treating hepatitis C virus infection.Clin Infect Dis.2018:67(10):1477-92. doi:10.1093/cid/ciy585MD Anderson Cancer Center.Hepatitis C and liver cancer: what to know.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Canadian Society of Intestinal Research.The liver; an amazing organ.Patel A.Benign vs malignant tumors.JAMA Oncol. 2020;6(9):1488. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2020.2592Pacasil SJ, Noor M, Leyva A.A review of benign hepatic tumors and their imaging characteristics.Cureus.2020 Jan;12(1):e6813. doi:10.7759/cureus.6813National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancer.National Cancer Institute.Primary liver cancer treatment (PDQ).Van Rosmalen BV, Furumaya A, Komoenhouwer AJ.Hepatocellular adenoma in men: a nationwide assessment of pathology and correlation with clinical course.Liver Int.2021 Oct;41(10):2474–2484. doi:10.1111/liv.14989Cancer Research UK.Risks and causes of liver cancer.Zhang XT, Ren WD, Song G, Xiao YJ, Sun FF, Wang N.Infantile hepatic hemangiomas associated with high-output cardiac failure and pulmonary hypertension.BMC Cardiovasc Disord.2019;19:216. doi:10.1186/s12872-019-1200-6Cakir C.Non-traumatic spontaneous ruptured hepatocellular adenoma after selective transcatheter arterial chemo-embolization for reduction of tumor mass: a case report.Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg.2022 Feb;28(2):225–228. doi:10.14744/tjtes.2020.94838National Cancer Institute.Liver cancer diagnosis.Oldhafer KJ, Habbel V, Horling K, Makridis G, Wagner KC.Benign liver tumors.Visc Med. 2020 Aug;36(4):292-303. doi:10.1159/000509145American Cancer Society.Treating liver cancer.Schille S, Harris A, Link-Gelles R, Romero J, Ward J, Nelson N.Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for use of a hepatitis B vaccine with a novel adjuvant.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2018 Apr 20;67(15):455-8.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Alcohol and health - frequently asked questions; what does moderate drinking mean?World Health Organization.No level of alcohol is safe for our health.American Lung Association.Tobacco cessation treatment: what is covered?AASLD-IDSA HCV Guidance Panel.Hepatitis C guidance 2018 update: AASLD-IDSA recommendations for testing, managing, and treating hepatitis C virus infection.Clin Infect Dis.2018:67(10):1477-92. doi:10.1093/cid/ciy585MD Anderson Cancer Center.Hepatitis C and liver cancer: what to know.
Canadian Society of Intestinal Research.The liver; an amazing organ.
Patel A.Benign vs malignant tumors.JAMA Oncol. 2020;6(9):1488. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2020.2592
Pacasil SJ, Noor M, Leyva A.A review of benign hepatic tumors and their imaging characteristics.Cureus.2020 Jan;12(1):e6813. doi:10.7759/cureus.6813
National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancer.
National Cancer Institute.Primary liver cancer treatment (PDQ).
Van Rosmalen BV, Furumaya A, Komoenhouwer AJ.Hepatocellular adenoma in men: a nationwide assessment of pathology and correlation with clinical course.Liver Int.2021 Oct;41(10):2474–2484. doi:10.1111/liv.14989
Cancer Research UK.Risks and causes of liver cancer.
Zhang XT, Ren WD, Song G, Xiao YJ, Sun FF, Wang N.Infantile hepatic hemangiomas associated with high-output cardiac failure and pulmonary hypertension.BMC Cardiovasc Disord.2019;19:216. doi:10.1186/s12872-019-1200-6
Cakir C.Non-traumatic spontaneous ruptured hepatocellular adenoma after selective transcatheter arterial chemo-embolization for reduction of tumor mass: a case report.Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg.2022 Feb;28(2):225–228. doi:10.14744/tjtes.2020.94838
National Cancer Institute.Liver cancer diagnosis.
Oldhafer KJ, Habbel V, Horling K, Makridis G, Wagner KC.Benign liver tumors.Visc Med. 2020 Aug;36(4):292-303. doi:10.1159/000509145
American Cancer Society.Treating liver cancer.
Schille S, Harris A, Link-Gelles R, Romero J, Ward J, Nelson N.Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for use of a hepatitis B vaccine with a novel adjuvant.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2018 Apr 20;67(15):455-8.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Alcohol and health - frequently asked questions; what does moderate drinking mean?
World Health Organization.No level of alcohol is safe for our health.
American Lung Association.Tobacco cessation treatment: what is covered?
AASLD-IDSA HCV Guidance Panel.Hepatitis C guidance 2018 update: AASLD-IDSA recommendations for testing, managing, and treating hepatitis C virus infection.Clin Infect Dis.2018:67(10):1477-92. doi:10.1093/cid/ciy585
MD Anderson Cancer Center.Hepatitis C and liver cancer: what to know.
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