Liver Lesions

Liver Lesions: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment Options in the UK

Liver lesions are tissue abnormalities located within the liver. They can also be termed as masses in the liver or hepatic lesions. The majority are found during scanning due to other medical causes. In most cases, they show no liver lesion symptoms.

There is nothing to be anxious about when a lump in the liver is detected. Some liver lesions are harmless, while others are benign liver lesions. Also, a limited number of those are malignant liver lesions that require immediate attention.

The secret of safe treatment is early diagnosis. Most liver lesions are safely and effectively managed with specialist care.

What Are Liver Lesions?

Liver lesions are areas of abnormal tissue development within the liver. They can present themselves as a hepatic mass, lump on liver, or masses in liver on a scan.

Liver lesion can be either solid or fluid. Some grow slowly. Others can be permanent.

In certain cases, doctors refer to the liver shadow on scan when the lesion is initially observed in ultrasound. This only implies that something out of the ordinary was found on the scan, and it requires additional testing.

Not every liver lesion is dangerous. Most of them are accidentally found and do not have harmful effects.

Are Liver Lesions Serious?

No, many liver lesions are harmless. However, others go through life with benign liver lesions without any treatment at all. These are cysts and hemangiomas.

Nonetheless, some of the malignant liver lesions are cancerous. These require immediate expert attention.

The seriousness depends on:

  • Size of the lesion
  • Growth pattern
  • Symptoms
  • Risk factors

Diagnosis is important to distinguish between harmless lesions and the harmful lesions at an early stage.

Types of Liver Lesions

Liver lesions are of various types and may include both harmless growths and cancerous tumours.  Knowledge of each type assists physicians in selecting the safest and most effective treatment.

Benign Liver Lesions

These are non-cancerous tumours that tend to be stable with time.  They are, in most cases, accidentally found during scans performed.

  • Hemangioma
    The most common benign hepatic mass is a hemangioma. It consists of tangled blood vessels. The majority of them are painless and asymptomatic. They do not develop or transform into cancer. It is not often treated unless it is paining.
  • Focal Nodular Hyperplasia (FNH)
    FNH is a hard lump on the liver due to the abnormal flow of blood. It is common in young adults. It does not turn into cancer. The majority of patients require only scan monitoring.
  • Hepatocellular Adenoma : It is a rare benign tumour that is linked with hormones and obesity. It can bleed if it is large. It may require surgery if the hepatic mass grows in size or becomes painful.
  • Liver Cysts
    Liver cysts are sacs filled with fluid within the liver. Most show no symptoms. Some become huge and painful to the press. In these situations, only basic drainage or surgery is required.

Malignant Liver Lesions

Malignant Liver lesions are cancerous tumours that need to be diagnosed in time. Early treatment is beneficial to avoid liver damage.

  • Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)
    The most common primary liver cancer is HCC. It grows in a damaged liver, which is the result of cirrhosis in the majority of cases. Early diagnosis enables curative treatment to be administered to the patients.
  • Metastatic Liver Cancer
    It occurs when the cancer spreads from another organ to the liver. Common sources are colon, breast, and lung cancer. It is the most prevalent cause of malignant liver lesions.
  • Cholangiocarcinoma
    This is cancer of the bile ducts inside the liver. It is aggressive but rare. Early diagnosis improves outcomes with surgery and oncology care.

 

It is cancer of the bile ducts present in the liver. It is aggressive but rare. Surgery and oncology care are possible when diagnosed at an early stage.

Symptoms of Liver Lesions

The majority of liver lesions are asymptomatic. Many are found accidentally.

Liver Lesions include the following symptoms:

  • Upper right abdominal pain

     

  • Bloating or fullness

     

  • Loss of appetite

     

  • Unexplained weight loss

     

  • Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes)

     

  • Fatigue

     

  • Dark urine

     

  • Fever

     

  • Shoulder pain

     

  • Abdominal swelling

     

The deep liver pressure pain is frequently transferred to visible swelling. Jaundice normally indicates bile obstruction. These are warning signs that need immediate diagnosis and treatment.

What Causes Liver Lesions?

Lesions Liver causes have numerous lesions. Some are harmless while others are linked to disease.

Common hepatic lesions causes include:

Blood vessel abnormalities

These may lead to the abnormal clustering of blood vessels within the liver. They could develop benign lesions such as hemangiomas. Majority of them are harmless and require just monitoring.

Hormonal changes

Hormones are a cause of some liver growths, particularly oestrogen. Hormonal factors are known to cause the development or growth of adenomas. It could be helpful to make changes in drugs.

Fatty liver disease

The excess fat in the liver may cause inflammation and scarring. In the long run, it can lead to benign or malignant lesions. Early management lowers the risks in the long-run.

Viral hepatitis

Hepatitis B and C destroy liver cells and increases a risk of cancer. HCC is one of the lesions that may result due to chronic infection. These risks are reduced through treatment.

Alcohol-related liver damage

Long-term alcohol use causes inflammation and cirrhosis. These changes make malignant lesions more likely. Stopping alcohol greatly improves outcomes.

Infections

There are infections which develop abscesses within the liver. These lesions are painful and result in fever. They are normally cured by antibiotics or by drainage.

Tumours

Benign and malignant tumours could also present as masses in the liver. Their growth behaviour and seriousness differ. Scans are used to distinguish them.


Genetic conditions

Multiple lesions may be caused by genetic conditions such as haemochromatosis and polycystic liver disease. They are hereditary and in many cases early identified. Complications are prevented through monitoring.

Risk is predisposed by metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity. In the long run, fatty liver disease may cause hepatic lesions.

Occasionally, the liver shadow on a regular ultrasound is the initial indicator.

How Are Liver Lesions Diagnosed?

Our physicians use a step-wise approach to rule out a hepatic mass.

Diagnostic Steps:

Step 1 : Ultrasound scan

Initial examination to identify a lump in the liver. It helps detect atypical regions in the liver. It is a rapid, painless imaging technique commonly used by doctors. It also detects the if more advanced scans are required.

Step 2 : CT scan

It displays size and blood supply. The scan gives detailed images of cross-section of the liver. It assists physicians to learn the behavior of the lesion and whether it appears harmless or suspicious.

Step 3 : MRI scan

It has better lesion definition. MRI provides the best image of liver tissues. It is useful in distinguishing between the types of lesions with a high degree of accuracy.

Step 4 : Blood tests

Blood tests are done to test liver and tumour markers. They demonstrate the liver's efficiency and the presence of indicators of cancer risk. Diagnosis can also be made using blood tests that detect inflammation or infection.

Step 5 : Biopsy

It is used when scans are unable to confirm the diagnosis. A small piece of tissue is removed to study cells using a microscope. Biopsy provides better clarity of the outcome when the diagnosis of imaging is unclear.

 

What does a liver lesion look like on a scan?

It appears as a light or dark spot compared to normal liver tissue. In most patients, modern imaging can confirm a diagnosis without the need for surgery.

Treatment Options for Liver Lesions

When No Treatment Is Needed

There are numerous harmless, benign liver lesions that do not require any treatment. These are small hemangiomas and simple cysts. Regular monitoring of scans is sufficient. Normal life in patients is not interrupted.

Medication & Monitoring

Hormones or inflammation linked to lesions are sensitive to medications. Adenomas may be shrunk by the withdrawal of hormones. Liver safety is followed up by regular blood tests.

Physicians do the scans after every 6-12 months to ensure safe follow-up.

Minimally Invasive Treatments

They are applied to symptomatic or early cancer lesions.

Options include:

  • Radiofrequency ablation
  • Microwave ablation
  • Image-guided cyst drainage

     

The methods cause the lesion tissue to be destroyed without any major surgery.

Surgery for Liver Lesions

Surgery is used when:

  • Lesion is growing
  • Cancer is suspected
  • Pain is severe

     

The affected part of the liver is safely removed by the surgeons. The liver regrows after surgery.

 Lump on liver treatment is dependent on the size, location and health of the patient.

Are Liver Lesions Cancerous?

Most liver lesions are not cancerous.

Hemangiomas and FNH are benign liver lesions, and they do not develop into cancer. They stay harmless for life. Liver cancer and metastatic disease are malignant liver lesions. These patients demand immediate oncology care.  A mere scan does not always make the difference. This is the reason why specialised imaging is essential.

When to See a Liver Specialist

You are to seek the services of a specialist in case you have:

Early evaluation improves survival.

At Leaders in Liver Health, patients enjoy fast diagnosis by consultants and expert care.

Why Choose Leaders in Liver Health (UK)?

We specialise in the diagnosis and management of liver lesions and hepatic masses across the UK.

Our strengths include:

  • Consultant hepatologist expertise
    Our consultants have concentrated years of experience. They provide accurate evaluations, support, and customised advice.
  • Advanced MRI and CT imaging
    These scans give clear and high detailed images of the liver. They assist in the detection of types of lesions at an early stage and guide in making safe treatment decisions.
  • Multidisciplinary cancer team
    Each case is worked on by hepatologists, oncologists and radiologists. This guarantees a holistic coordinated plan of care.
  • Individualised liver care
    Each patient is provided with an individual approach. This helps to improve the results and minimise unnecessary treatment.
  • Rapid diagnostic pathways
    Quick testing and imaging saves on waiting time. Timely reassurance and treatment is achieved through early diagnostic of patients.

 

We connect you with the specialised evaluation for liver lesions and hepatic masses under one roof.

FAQ's About Liver Lesions

Liver lesion is an abnormal area of tissue within the liver. It can be solid or filled with fluid. Most benign lesions are harmless. Whereas, some might be in need of treatment depending on the cause.

Liver lesions are medically referred to as hepatic lesions. These are cysts, tumours, infection, and scars. Most of them are harmless and detected in the process of routine scans.

A liver mass implies a visible lump on the imaging. It may be benign or malignant. Scans and blood tests are used to establish the cause.

Majority of liver lesions are harmless. Some of them can be cancerous. Early diagnosis is used to diagnose the lesions requiring treatment.

Some cysts are able to reduce with time. Majority of the benign lesions are not progressive and remain stable. Without treatment, malignant lesions will not disappear.

Causes of lumps on the liver include cysts, fatty liver disease, growths in blood vessels, infections, tumours and exposure to hormones.

A liver shadow refers to an abnormal reflection that appears on the ultrasound. It does not confirm cancer. Additional scans would be required to diagnose it appropriately.

Yes. The majority of the hepatic lesions are benign, such as hemangiomas and cysts. They do not affect health.

Diagnosis of liver lesions is done through ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, blood test, and in some cases through biopsy. These are size, type and risk tests.

Patient Success Stories

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