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Primary and metastatic liver cancer
1Department of Surgery, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20008, USA.
Seminars in Oncology Nursing
|March 13, 1999
Summary
Surgical resection is the best treatment for liver cancer, but not all patients qualify. Other therapies like radiation, chemotherapy, and transplantation offer hope for managing liver cancer and improving survival.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Oncology
- Surgical Oncology
Background:
- Primary and metastatic liver cancer present complex challenges in diagnosis and treatment.
- A thorough understanding of liver physiology and disease pathology is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively review liver physiology, disease processes, diagnostic methods, and therapeutic strategies for primary and metastatic liver cancer.
- To provide an overview of current treatment options, including surgical and non-surgical modalities.
Main Methods:
- A review of relevant research studies, comprehensive review articles, and authoritative textbooks on liver cancer.
- Synthesis of information regarding liver cancer pathophysiology, diagnostics, and treatment efficacy.
Main Results:
- Surgical resection is the optimal treatment for eligible liver cancer patients, though eligibility is limited.
- Multimodal approaches including radiation therapy, chemotherapy (systemic and intra-arterial), chemoembolization, cryosurgery, and liver transplantation offer palliative care, conversion of unresectable to resectable disease, and extended survival.
Conclusions:
- While surgical resection provides the best outcome for liver cancer, its limited applicability necessitates exploring alternative and combined treatment modalities.
- Enhanced knowledge of liver cancer disease processes and treatments empowers oncology nurses to effectively educate patients and their families throughout the care continuum.