Liver lesions, put simply, are abnormal cells in your liver. They are the mass or the tumor in your doctors’ diagnosis.
Generally, liver lesions come in two types: noncancerous and benign. They usually don’t spread or bring any health problems. But some liver lesions can be a result of cancer.
Causes
Common causes are listed as follows:
- Hepatitis B or C. They are the main causes of liver cancer.
- Cirrhosis. Hepatitis B or C, or alcohol can cause these conditions.
- Iron storage disease. In the United States, this disease is the most common one among all the genetic disorders. It will make extra iron from foods stored in your organs, harming your liver.
- Obesity. Obesity is an invisible killer for many diseases.
Diagnosis
These tests may help you to diagnose a liver lesion, include:
- Blood tests. If your levels of a certain protein go high, such as AFP, you may suffer from the liver disease.
- Biopsy. A small sample of the lesion will help you to rule out cancer.
- Imaging tests. These tests include MRI, CT and PET, which show exactly your lesion’s size and location.
Treatment and Prevention
Common treatments include chemotherapy, transarterial chemoembolization, radiofrequency ablation (RFA). The best prevention consists of two main sectors:
- Exercise. Maintain a healthy weight.
- Moderate drinking. Two drinks for men and one for women.
