Diagnosis
There are several types of tests and procedures that your doctor can perform in order to properly detect and diagnose a liver metastasis:
Physical exam
During a physical exam, your doctor can check for certain symptoms of liver cancer such as jaundice, swelling of the stomach, or physical changes to internal organs like the liver and spleen. Your doctor may also take a detailed medical history to determine any risk factors you may have.
Blood tests
Your doctor may want to measure the amount of alphafetoprotein (AFP) in your blood by performing an AFP blood test. A high AFP count may be an early indication of primary liver cancer, but this does not occur in all primary liver cancers. They may also measure other tumor markers to help determine if you have secondary liver cancer. Your doctor may also want to perform a complete blood count (CBC), a procedure in which a sample of blood is checked for the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and the amount of hemoglobin and check your liver function tests for signs of inflammation or jaundice. Coagulation tests will be performed to evaluate your liver function.
Imaging Tests
Imaging tests allow the doctor to determine whether there is a tumor in the liver, as well as the exact size, location, and extent of the tumor. CT scans and MRIs produce detailed cross-sectional images ("slices") of the body and can pinpoint the tumor's size, shape, and location, as well as the number of tumors. Ultrasounds may also be used to detect the presence of a tumor, as well as the tumor's size, shape, and location.
Biopsy
A biopsy consists of removing a sample of tissue and then looking at it under a microscope to determine if the tissue is cancerous. The tissue sample may be obtained by inserting either a thin needle using ultrasound, a CT scan or a laparoscope to guide the needle into the tumor. A liver biopsy is the only way to make a completely accurate diagnosis of liver cancer.
