Staging
In the United States, the most common form of liver tumor is metastases
(i.e., the spread of a cancer from another part of the body). In 40 -
80% of patients with cancer of the colon, the tumor will eventually
spread from the colon to the liver. This event may occur at any time,
beginning from the time of diagnosis of the colon cancer to many years
after treatment of the cancer. Other types of cancer (i.e. pancreas,
stomach, breast, lung, etc.) may also spread to the liver during the
course of the disease.
Primary liver cancer (or hepatocellular cancer), intrahepatic bile
duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma), are diseases that occur when the
tumor originates in the liver and did not spread from another
organ. In Asia and Africa, hepatocellular cancer is the most common
type of malignancy and frequently develops in patients who have liver
cirrhosis.
Staging is part of the diagnostic process and consists of gathering
detailed information about the tumor to determine its stage of
development. Staging is critical in determining if your cancer is
advanced. The exact stage of your cancer will determine the treatment
options. To determine the stage of your disease, your physician uses a
variety of diagnostic procedures to determine the type of tumor, size
and location, and whether the tumor has metastasized or spread to
another region of the body.
During staging, the tumor is analyzed and classified according to a
specific tumor classification system. The most common system is called
TNM.
T classifies the size of the tumor and is usually followed
by a number from 1 to 4.
Classification of T1 for example, designates a relatively
small tumor. T4 represents a more advanced tumor or multiple
tumors in both lobes of the liver. TX is used to denote an
inaccessible tumor (one that cannot be adequately classified because
it cannot easily be observed.)
N classifies the lymph nodes. A NO
indicates no lymph node involvement with cancer. N1 indicates
that the tumor has spread to the lymph nodes. NX means that
the lymph nodes cannot be accessed.
M classifies the spread of the tumor to other
organs. MO reflects an absence of spread. Ml means the
tumor has spread to a distant organ. MX means that the
metastases are not accessible.
The success of treatment is directly related to the stage of the
cancer. Patients with Stage I have a better chance of being cured of
their cancer than a patient with Stage IV disease.
< Back to Diagnosis
|