Inside "Cancer by Type":

@CancerQuest on Twitter:

Related to this page:

Test your knowledge on Cancer by Type

Was this page helpful? | What did you like most? How can we make it better?

CancerQuest > Introduction to Patient Information > Introduction to Cancer by Type > Liver Cancer: Introduction > Types of Liver Cancer

Types of Liver Cancer

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
The most common type of liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma and it is the result of a tumor formed by the abnormal growth of the liver-specific cells called hepatocytes (‘hepat’ and ‘hepato’ are derived from the Greek word for liver).  Most patients with this type of cancer are over 50 and it is more common in males than in females. Hepatocellular carcinoma can metastasize, and when it does, it frequently goes to nearby lymph nodes and to the lungs. ⁽¹⁾

Cholangiocarcinoma

This kind of carcinoma, also known as bile duct cancer, arises from the connective tissues of the tubes that connect the liver to the gallbladder and the gallbladder to the small intestine (hepatic bile ducts) as well as the ducts, located inside the liver (intrahepatic ducts). Most cholangiocarcinomas are adenocarcinomas (they form in glandular tissue)but they frequently grow slowly and don’t metastasize for long periods of time. Because the cancer has few specific symptoms and can be confused with other liver conditions (hepatitis or cirrhosis), it is difficult to detect early and is usually in advanced form when discovered. The average age of patients at diagnosis with cholangio carcinoma is 65. ⁽²⁾

Hepatoblastoma

Hepatoblastoma characteristically develops in children; it is most frequently diagnosed in infants between 14 and 24 months and almost all patients are diagnosed by the age of 5. ⁽³⁾ Older children  and adults can develop this carcinoma, but it is very rare. This malignancy is the result of an uncontrolled proliferation of undeveloped liver cells (hepatocytes). Hepatoblastoma is usually found in only one place (unifocal), it’s uncommon for it to metastasize. ⁽⁴⁾

References for this page:

1. Hepatocellular carcinoma [http://www.nextbio.com/b/search/ov/Hepatocellular%20carcinoma?id=162995&type=disease&synonym=Liver%20carcinoma]
2. Cholangiocarcinoma [http://www.nextbio.com/b/search/ov/Cholangiocarcinoma%20of%20biliary%20tract?id=171632&type=disease&synonym=Cholangiocarcinoma%20of%20biliary%20tract]
3. Pre- and Postnatal Imaging of a Congenital Hepatoblastoma [http://content.karger.com/produktedb/produkte.asp?DOI=000327580&typ=pdf]
4. Hepatoblastoma [http://www.nextbio.com/b/search/ov/HEPATOBLASTOMA]