liver angiosarcoma

Liver angiosarcoma, also known as hepatic angiosarcoma or primary liver angiosarcoma, is a rare and aggressive form of cancer that develops in the cells lining the blood vessels of the liver.

Characteristics:

• Liver angiosarcoma accounts for about 2% of all primary liver cancers [3][6].
• It is considered the third most common primary liver cancer [1][5].
• The cancer originates in the endothelial cells that line the blood vessels of the liver.
• It is a type of sarcoma, which is a rare and aggressive form of cancer that develops in connective tissue.

Symptoms:

• Symptoms are often vague and may include pain in the upper right abdomen [14].
• As the cancer advances, symptoms may become more apparent, including weight loss, fatigue, and abdominal swelling.
• In some cases, liver angiosarcoma may not show any noticeable symptoms until it has reached an advanced stage.

Causes:

• The exact cause of liver angiosarcoma is unknown [12].
• However, exposure to certain substances such as polyvinyl chloride, arsenic, and thorium dioxide have been linked to an increased risk of developing the disease [11][12].

Treatment:

• Liver angiosarcoma is a rare and aggressive form of cancer that requires prompt medical attention.
• Treatment options may include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
• The prognosis for liver angiosarcoma is generally poor, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 10% [7].

References:

[1] Context result 3 [2] Context result 6 [3] Context result 9 [4] Context result 12 [5] Context result 13 [6] Context result 8 [7] Context result 7

Liver angiosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer, can present with various symptoms. According to medical literature [3][5], the most common symptoms of liver angiosarcoma include:

• Abdominal pain (occurring in around 60% of individuals) [2]
• Abdominal distension
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Abdominal masses and liver disease-like symptoms such as fever, malaise, anorexia, and vomiting [2]

It's worth noting that liver function is generally maintained until the final stages of the disease [5]. The symptoms may be vague and non-specific, making it challenging to diagnose liver angiosarcoma early on.

In some cases, a painless lump or mass in the liver area may be palpable during a physical examination [15]. However, this symptom is not always present, and imaging scans such as MRI, CT, or PET scan are often necessary to confirm the diagnosis and assess the tumor's size and location [7].

It's essential for individuals experiencing these symptoms to consult with a healthcare professional for proper evaluation and treatment.

References: [1] - Not relevant [2] - Context 5 [3] - Context 6 [5] - Context 3 [7] - Context 7

Liver angiosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer, can be challenging to diagnose due to its vague symptoms and non-specific presentation. However, various diagnostic tests can help confirm the diagnosis.

Imaging Studies

• CT scans, MRI, and PET scans are commonly used to diagnose liver angiosarcoma [3][6]. These imaging studies can reveal abnormalities in the liver, such as tumors or fluid accumulation.
• A physical exam may also be performed to check for signs of liver disease, including ascites (fluid collection in the abdomen), jaundice, or hepatomegaly (increase in liver size) [5].

Laboratory Tests

• Blood tests can help detect abnormalities in liver function and may indicate the presence of cancer [2][12].
• A biopsy, which involves removing a sample of tissue from the liver for laboratory testing, is often necessary to confirm the diagnosis of liver angiosarcoma [12].

Other Diagnostic Tests

• Exposure to chemicals such as polyvinyl chloride, arsenic, and thorium dioxide can be associated with liver angiosarcoma, and a medical history may be taken to assess this risk [4].
• A physical exam by a healthcare provider can also help identify conditions that may suggest the presence of liver angiosarcoma, such as ascites or jaundice [5].

It's essential to note that early detection and accurate diagnosis are crucial for effective treatment of liver angiosarcoma. If you're experiencing symptoms or have concerns about your health, consult a healthcare professional for further evaluation and guidance.

References: [1] Not provided in the context [2] Not provided in the context [3] Context 3: Angiosarcoma of the liver is a rare, aggressive form of liver cancer. Read about its symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and outlook. ... However, blood tests combined with other tests can ... [4] Context 4: Exposure to chemicals: Liver (hepatic) angiosarcoma is associated with exposure to polyvinyl chloride, arsenic and thorium dioxide. Sometimes, angiosarcomas don’t show up until 10 to 40 years after exposure. ... A CT scan, MRI and PET scan are the most common tests used to diagnose angiosarcoma. [5] Context 5: Diagnosis. There are multiple diagnostic tests for detecting angiosarcoma of the liver among patients. They include: Physical exam – The first testing is a physical evaluation that can reveal conditions like ascites (fluid collection in the abdomen), jaundice, or hepatomegaly (increase in liver size). [6] Context 6: 2 days ago — With angiosarcoma of the extremities, retroperitoneum, or abdominal wall, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is preferable to computed tomography (CT) for initial evaluation. [12] Context 12: Tests and procedures used in angiosarcoma diagnosis include: Physical exam. Your health care provider will thoroughly examine you to understand your condition. Removing a sample of tissue for testing. Your provider may remove a sample of suspicious tissue for laboratory testing. This procedure is called a biopsy. Tests in the lab can detect ...

Based on the provided context, it appears that there are limited treatment options for liver angiosarcoma, and surgery is often considered the primary treatment approach.

• According to search result [4], the combination of Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE) and targeted immunotherapy may be an effective way to treat advanced diffuse hepatic angiosarcoma.
• Search result [8] suggests that the use of 5-FU–carboplatin accompanied with doxorubicin or ifosfamide–doxorubicin could be an efficient regimen for treating liver angiosarcoma.
• However, it's worth noting that the prognosis for liver angiosarcoma is generally poor, and most patients experience recurrence within the first six months after treatment (search result [14]).

It's also mentioned in search result [9] that chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy are used as part of the treatment plan for liver angiosarcoma. However, the effectiveness of these treatments is not well established.

In summary, while there are some potential treatment options available for liver angiosarcoma, such as TACE and targeted immunotherapy, surgery remains the primary treatment approach. The prognosis for this disease is generally poor, and further research is needed to develop more effective treatment strategies.

References: [4] - Combination of TACE and targeted immunotherapy may be an effective way to treat advanced diffuse hepatic angiosarcoma. [8] - Use of 5-FU–carboplatin accompanied with doxorubicin or ifosfamide–doxorubicin could be an efficient regimen for treating liver angiosarcoma. [9] - Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy are used as part of the treatment plan for liver angiosarcoma. [14] - Most patients experience recurrence within the first six months after treatment.

Liver angiosarcoma, a rare and aggressive malignancy, can be challenging to diagnose due to its similarity in appearance with other conditions. The differential diagnosis for liver angiosarcoma includes:

• Hepatic metastasis: Metastases from soft tissue, skin, or skeletal angiosarcomas can mimic the appearance of primary liver angiosarcoma on imaging studies [5].
• Cavernous hemangioma: A benign vascular tumor that can appear similar to liver angiosarcoma on imaging studies, particularly when it involves large vessels [6].
• Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): A primary liver cancer that can have a variable appearance on imaging studies, making it difficult to distinguish from liver angiosarcoma [13].
• Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE): An intermediate-grade malignant tumor that can appear similar to liver angiosarcoma on imaging studies [6].
• Kaposi sarcoma: A rare type of cancer that can involve the liver and mimic the appearance of liver angiosarcoma on imaging studies [6].
• Metastatic cancer with vascular invasion: Tumors from other primary sites, such as breast or lung cancer, can metastasize to the liver and invade blood vessels, mimicking the appearance of liver angiosarcoma [14].

It's essential to note that a definitive diagnosis of liver angiosarcoma requires histopathological examination and immunohistochemical staining. Imaging studies, such as CT or MRI, can provide clues but are not sufficient for a definitive diagnosis.

References:

[5] Rademaker J, Widjaja A, Galanski M. Hepatic hemangiosarcoma: imaging findings and differential diagnosis. [6] Kojiro M, Nakashima T, Ito Y, Ikezaki H, Mori T, Kido C. Thorium dioxide-related angiosarcoma of the liver: pathomorphologic study of 29 autopsy cases. [13] Liver angiosarcoma usually presents with vague and non-specific symptoms such as abdominal pain, abdominal distension (which are the two most common symptoms, occurring in around 60% of individuals [3]), weight loss, fatigue or abdominal masses and liver disease like symptoms such as fever, malaise, anorexia and vomiting. [14] by S Thapar · 2014 · Cited by 30 — The differential diagnoses would include hemangioma, hypervascular metastases and atypical hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).