Metastatic liver disease

A liver metastasis or Leberfilia is a malignant tumor resettlement ( metastasis, daughter tumor ) in the liver.

In a liver metastasis is not a tumor that arises even from the liver cells, but there are tumor cell groups other tissues that get stuck in the liver and continue to grow there. Since the liver is through their capillary a blood filter, it is relatively frequently affected by metastases.

Liver metastases initially make little or no discomfort. Prolonged, progressive liver infection this can lead to ascites, cause a damming of the biliary tract and liver failure.

Usually you can find on closer Search multiple metastases. Single metastases are rare. They can be represented by means of ultrasound, CT and MRI.

In particular tumors of the portal system such as gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer and colorectal cancer often metastasize than the first in the liver, but also in other tumors, - for example in lung cancer - can often prove liver metastases. When breast cancer liver metastases occur rarely and usually late in the disease process.

Depending on Primärtomor can be attempted surgically to remove individual liver metastases. However, a surgical removal is no treatment of the primary tumor dar. Usually liver metastases show but already an advanced and difficult to treat condition of cancer at.

With radiosurgery is available in some centers, an alternative method is available, which also inoperable tumors can be treated otherwise.