hepatic and biliary disorders
Metastatic Liver Cancer
Diagnosis of Metastatic Liver Cancer
CT with contrast or MRI with contrast Sometimes biopsy Liver metastases are suspected in patients with weight loss and hepatomegaly or with primary tumors likely to spread to the liver. If metastases are suspected, Laboratory Tests of the Liver and Gallbladder are often done, but results are usually not specific for the diagnosis. Alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, and sometimes lactate dehydrogenase typically increase earlier or to a greater degree than do other test results; aminotransferase levels vary. Liver Biopsy guided by imaging provides the definitive diagnosis and is done if other tests are equivocal or if histologic information (eg, cell type of the liver metastasis) may help determine the treatment plan. 