Friday, 19 August 2011

Causes Of Liver Cancer

It is not clear what causes most cases of liver cancer. But in some cases, the cause is known. For example, a chronic infection with certain hepatitis viruses cause liver cancer.

Liver cancer occurs when cells develop liver changes (mutations) in their DNA - the material that provides instructions for all chemical processes in the body. DNA mutations cause changes in these instructions. A result is that cells may begin to grow out of control and eventually form a tumor - a mass of cancer cells.

Types of liver cancer

Primary liver cancer that originates in cells of the liver is divided into different types depending on the type of cells that become cancerous. Types include:

Hepatocellular carcinoma. This is the most common form of primary liver cancer. It begins in the hepatocytes, the main type of liver cells.

Cholangiocarcinoma. This type of cancer that starts in the bile ducts in the liver. This cancer is sometimes called the biliary tract cancer.

Hepatoblastoma. Liver cancer affects infants and young children.

Angiosarcoma and angiosarcoma. These cancers begin in the blood vessels of the liver and grow very quickly.

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