Liver conditions

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or Hepatoma is the most common type of primary liver cancer. HCC arises from the main cells of the liver known as the hepatocytes. Whilst ordinarily confined to the liver it may, on occasion, spread to other organs. More common in men than women, HCC occurs mostly in people with cirrhosis of the liver.

For many the first indication of a problem is when the disease is quite advanced as the early signs are often not obvious. The main symptoms that may indicate early onset of pancreatic cancer are abdominal pain, joint pain, jaundice, nausea, muscle wasting and skin blemishes. We routinely perform pancreatico-duodenectomy (known as the Whipple procedure) and distal pancreatectomy operations performed for tumours at the head and body/tail of the pancreas.

Neuroendocrine tumours originate from our cells that make hormones. NETs develop when the cells begin to grow abnormally, with common sites including the stomach, lungs, pancreas and intestine. NETs are often slow growing, although a minority can grow aggressively. Led by Professor Martyn Caplin, our unit has brought together a team of specialists to treat and support our patients with neuroendocrine tumours.

Cirrhosis is the end result of many causes of liver disease and driven by the formation of liver scarring or fibrosis. For many the first indication they have cirrhosis is when they develop advanced complications such as fluid retention, bleeding or confusion as a result of decompensation. Caring for our patients with advanced liver disease requires a multidisciplinary approach, including specialist input from our hepatologists and inpatient care working alongside our intensive care team and access to specialist procedures such as TIPS insertion.