Hepatic Tumors
Benign
- Hepatic adenoma.
- Cavernous adenoma.
Malignant
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
- Angiosarcoma.
Key Notes on Prevalence
- Most Common Liver Malignancy:Â
- Metastasis.
- m/c liver metastasis: From Colon cancer.
- Primary Liver Malignancy:Â
- Classical Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC).
- Variant:Â Fibrolamellar HCC.
- m/c hepatic tumor in children: Hepatoblastoma.
- m/c liver sarcoma: Angiosarcoma.
- m/c benign liver tumor: Cavernous hemangioma.
Cavernous Hemangioma/ Liver Hemangioma
Cavernous Hemangioma
- M/c benign tumour of liver.
- Association:Â
- VHL Syndrome (Von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome).
- Involves chromosome deletion 3P.
- Clinical:Â
- Deep-seated (organs like liver).
- Usually asymptomatic.
- Microscopy:
- Shows very large and dilated blood vessels.
- CT:
- Peripheral nodular enhancement.

- No surgical intervention required.
- Mnemonic: Hemand (Hemangioma) oru deep large cave (cavernous) il poi, 3 Pakal (3p) thamasichu â Very hot locationil (VHL)
Hepatic Adenoma
- Young female on OCPs â Only have a sheet (sheet of hepatocytes) and board (Bordeaux Classification) nothing else â Board has Cochin HaNeeFa pic in it
- Cochi (β Catenin) ellarkum cancer ()
- Haneefa (HNF 1Îą) young actor played multiple role â young pt, multiple lesions
- m/c affected group:Â Young females.
- Associated with Oral Contraceptive Pill (OCP) intake.
- Risk of malignant conversion: 10%.
- Female (F) >> Male (M).
- Associations:
- OCP
- Anabolic steroids (males).
- Clinical:Â
- Mostly symptomatic (Right hypochondrium pain/lump),
- Hemoperitoneum (due to rupture).
- Investigations:
- IOC: CECT.
- Gross morphology:
- Well circumscribed, encapsulated tumor.
- m/c in the right lobe of liver.
- Histopathology (HPE):
- Sheets of hepatocytes,
- Monomorphic hepatocytes with no atypia.
- No ducts,
- No Kupffer cells.
- No vascular invasion (vascular invasion is present in HCC).
Bordeaux Classification:
- Inflammatory:
- Highest bleeding risk.
- β-catenin mutated:
- â risk of cancer.
- HNF 1Îą mutated:
- Young patients, multiple lesions.
Management:Â
- Resection
- Indications:
- Usually >5 cm
- If High risk >2 cm
Angiosarcoma

- Most Common Organ:
- Most commonly in the liver.
- Most common cause for malignant cancer of heart in adults
- Causes:Â VAT chemicals:
- V: Vinyl chloride (plastics, polyvinyl chloride).
- A: Arsenic (pesticides).
- T: Thorotrast (thorium-based contrast dye, old radiology use).
- Thorotrast,
- Thorotrast linked to
- HCC,
- cholangiocarcinoma &
- renal cell carcinoma.
- Angiosarcoma (VAT â Plastic)
- Histology:
- Anastomosing vascular channels.
- Highly pleomorphic cells.
- IHC markers:
- von Willebrand factor.
- Factor VIII.
- VEGF.
- CD31 (PCAM)
- Mnemonic: Plastic (Plastic industry) ittu Vaattan (VAT) poyapo Liveril blood cancer vannnu
Focal Nodular Hyperplasia (FNH):

- Etiology: â blood supply.
- HPE:
- Hepatocytes,
- Bile duct structures,
- Kupffer cells â Hotspot on Tc99 scan
- IOC: CECT â Central stellate scar.

Stellate terms | Seen in |
Stellate cells | ⢠Cirrhosis ⢠NAFLD ⢠Chronic pancreatitis ⢠Young stella â alcoholic â liver and pancreas |
Stellate Keratin Precipitates | ⢠Herpetic uveitis ⢠Toxoplasmosis ⢠Fuchs Heterochromia Iridocyclitis ⢠Young stella â Fucked () by Toxic () Herpes () Guy |
Stellate Granuloma | ⢠Cat Scratch Disease ⢠LGV ⢠Leprosy ⢠Syphillis ⢠Stella granny â has a Cat, Lgtv, has leprosy and syphillis |
Stellate scar | ⢠Kidney â Oncocytoma, Chromophobe RCC ⢠Liver â Focal Nodular Hyperplasia, Fibrolamellar Carcinoma ⢠Pancreas â Serous Cystadenocarcinoma ⢠Breast â Radial Scar: Premalignant |

Tc99 Pertechnate scan
- Warthinâs
- Meckelâs â 2 mucosa â CHORIOSTOMA
- Scan of choice
- Detects ectopic gastric tissue
- Pancreas
- Stomach

- Pertechnetate is taken up by:
- Thyroid
- Stomach
- Salivary gland
Thyroid Cancer:
- Shows decreased uptake (cold nodule)
Salivary gland tumors:
- Show cold spot
Exception:
- Warthin's tumour â hot spot
- Focal Nodular Hyperplasia (FNH) â hotspot
- Warthin â Is on a war â hot
Radioisotope | Key Findings / Notes |
Tc99m-MDP (methylene diphosphonate) | Bone Scan Hot Spots: Mets, Bone tumors, Metabolic bone disease. Cold Spots: Multiple Myeloma. |
Tc99m-HIDA | Acute Cholecystitis Bile leaks: Sensitive (fail to localise the site). âł To rule out EHBA Gold standard: Intra-op Cholangiography. |
Tc99m Sestamibi | PTH Adenoma |
Tc99m Sulphur colloid scan | Hot Spot âł Kupffer cells â Focal Nodular Hyperplasia (FNH) ⢠Sulphur - Kupfer |
Tc99m pertechnate | * Meckel's Diverticulum * Warthin's tumor |
Tc99m DMSA | Static morphology (Scar) |
Tc99m DTPA / MAG3 | ObStruction â Functional / Dynamic |
Sulphur colloid scan
- Hot spots in liver lesion:
- In FNH (Focal Nodular Hyperplasia)
- Not Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
- Reason
- Sulphur colloid taken up by Reticuloendothelial system (Kupffer cells)
- HCC â hepatocytes present, no Kupffer cells
- FNH â has Kupffer cells, shows uptake

- Other areas showing uptake
- Spleen â Splenosis identified
- Macrophages and occult abscesses
Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)

Feature | Classical Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) | Fibrolamellar HCC |
Age of Onset | Usually after 40s. | Typically younger (~19 or 20 years of age). |
Gender | More common in males. | Equal male-female preponderance. |
Associations | Strongly associated with Hepatitis B and C & alcohol. | Not associated with hepatitis or alcohol. |
Genetic Assoc. | ă
¤ | Associated with deletion on chromosome 19 (Mnemonic: Age 19, Chromosome 19). |
Tumor Marker | Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) elevated. | AFP levels normal; tumor marker is neurotensin (Mnemonic: Neurotensin sounds similar to 19). |
Spread | Spreads via hematogenous route (through blood). | Spreads via lymphatics. |
Prognosis | Generally has a bad prognosis. | Generally has a good prognosis. |
Mnemonic: Fibrolamellar â Ninteen (Age 19, Chr 19) Teen (Neurotensin)
- M/c primary malignant tumour of liver:Â HCC.
- M/c malignant tumour of liver (overall):Â Metastasis.
Risk Factors for HCC:
- Alcohol, Obesity
- Hemochromatosis.
- Chronic hepatitis B & C.
- Thorotrast,
- Thorotrast linked to
- HCC,
- cholangiocarcinoma &
- renal cell carcinoma.
- Angiosarcoma (VAT â Plastic)
- Aflatoxin,
- DM,
- NASH/NAFLD.
- Tyrosinemia 1 â HCC in a child
- Tyre Flat VAT
- Note: Colon cancer risk can be reduced by metformin
Features:
- Male (M) > Female (F).
- Most common (m/c) affected group: 60-70 years old males.
- M/c presentation: Hepatomegaly (Hard & nodular liver).
- Paraneoplastic Syndromes:
- Hypoglycemia (M/c),
- Hyperlipidemia (M/c biochemical),
- Cushingâs syndrome,
- Gynecomastia,
- Hypercalcemia.
Gross Morphology
- Multiple liver nodules.
Histology
- Hepatocytes arranged in cords/tubules.
- Vascular invasion.
Triple phase CT:Â IOC
- LIRADS score.
- Procedure:
- A plain scan is taken first.
- IV contrast is given.
- Timings of the scan's images are noted.
- Phases Finding:
- Non-contrast: Hypodense.
- Arterial: Enhancement â (Hepatic A supply)
- Venous: Early washout.
- Delayed phase: Capsule
- Note:
- Differentiates Hemangiomas and HCC.
- Metastasis on triple phase CT:
- All phases hypodense.
- Underlying cirrhosis
- Indicated by:
- Irregular surface of the liver.
- Ascites.



- AFP (Îą-fetoprotein):
- Tumour marker for HCC.
- AFPÂ is raised in:
- HCC.
- Yolk sac/endodermal sinus tumors.
- Biopsy: Confirms diagnosis.
- IHC markers:
- AFP.
- Arginase 3
- Hepar 1
- Glypican 3
- PIVKA
- OPN
- NOT NEUROTENSIN â Fibrolamellar
- Mnemonic: Hepatocellu â Karalil (Hepar 1) 6 (Arginase) Clip (Glypican) Ittu
Child-Turcotte-Pugh Score:Â


MELD (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease):
- Creatinine, Serum bilirubin, INR.
- (CBI)
PELD (Pediatric End-Stage Liver Disease):
- Growth failure, Albumin, Age (<1 year), Total bilirubin, INR.
- (GAABI)
Mnemonic:
- Milan was young beautiful lady â good cushion (cushings) body, due to cholesterol (hyperlipidemia), but she was not panchara (hypoglycemia)
- She was a prostitute (Paraneoplastic), she did threesome (Triple phase CT), va nallapole thurakkum (thorocast)
- She is initially enhanced, but when done she goes out early
- (hyper enhanced âearly washout)
- She had a child
- Young GAABI (PELD score)
- Grow up â CBI (MELD score)
- 53 yr old MiLan â Mi L â says
- âMy Liver is goodâ â Good for transplant
- No mets
- <5cm
- <3cm
- So Dont Tacer me (TACE â Palliative)
Management:

Localised Disease:
- Good functional liver reserve/Child Pugh A:
- Resection.
- Poor functional liver reserve/Child Pugh B or C:
- Child BC Liver â Bad capacity liver
- Liver transplantation (DDLT/LDLT) if Milan Criteria met
Milan Criteria:Â
- Single lesion ⤠5cm,
- 1-3 lesions ⤠3cm,
- No distant metastases.
UCSF Criteria
- Extended Milan
- Single tumor < 6.5 cm,
- 2-3 lesions < 4.5 cm,
- with total tumor diameter < 8 cm
Advanced Disease (Palliative):
- Multiple lesions in one lobe:
- TACE (Transarterial chemoembolization).
- Radiofrequency/Microwave ablation,
- Chemotherapy,
- Intralesional ethanol injection.
Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) Staging & Treatment:

Stage | Characteristics | Performance Status (PST) | Child-Pugh | Management (Mx) |
Very Early (O) | Single â¤2cm CIS | - | A | Resection / Liver Transplantation |
Early (A) | Single or nodules â¤3cm | 0 | - | A for associated disease Associated disease (-) ⢠Liver Transplantation Associated disease (+) ⢠RFA/PEI/PVE |
Intermediate (B) | Multinodular | 0 | - | TACE Be Intermediate and Tacer it |
Advanced (C) | Portal invasion, N1, M1 | 1-2 | - | Sorafenib C for Sora |
Terminal (D) | - | >2 | C | Best supportive care |
Prognostic Indicators for HCC:
- OKUDA (BATA)
- Bilirubin
- Ascites
- Tumor size
- Albumin
Kingâs College Criteria
- Used for acute liver failure
- Includes acetaminophen induced & non-acetaminophen induced
Non-paracetamol-induced acute liver failure
- [NOT JAUNDICE < 7 DAYS]
- PT >100 s (INR >6.5)
or/and
- Any three of the following: History â cause â Bilirubin/ PT
- Age <10 years or >40 years
- Etiology: non-A, non-B hepatitis, or idiosyncratic drug reaction
- Jaundice > 7 days before the development of encephalopathy
- PT >50 s (INR >3.5)
- Bilirubin >17.6 mg/dl (300 Âľmol/L)
Paracetamol-induced acute liver failure
- PCM â pH, PT; Creat, Mental
- pH <7.30 (irrespective of grade of encephalopathy)
or/and
- All three of the following:
- Prothrombin time >100 s (INR >6.5)
- Serum creatinine >3.4 mg/dl (300 Âľmol/L)
- Grade 3 or 4 hepatic encephalopathy