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Carcinoma hepatocelular - Overview

Nombres alternativos

Cáncer del hígado; Cáncer hepático; Carcinoma primario de las células del hígado; Tumor del hígado

Definición:

Es un cáncer del hígado.

Causas:

El carcinoma hepatocelular es responsable de la mayoría de los cánceres del hígado. Este tipo de cáncer es más frecuente en los hombres que en las mujeres y generalmente se observa en personas entre los 50 y los 60 años de edad.

Esta enfermedad es más común en partes de África y Asia que en Norteamérica, Sudamérica y Europa.

El carcinoma hepatocelular no es lo mismo que cáncer con metástasis al hígado, el cual empieza en otro órgano (como la mama o el colon) y se disemina al hígado.

En la mayoría de los casos, la causa del cáncer hepático generalmente es la cicatrización del hígado (cirrosis). La cirrosis puede ser causada por:

Los pacientes con hepatitis B o C están en riesgo de cáncer del hígado, incluso si no tienen cirrosis.

  • Reviewed last on: 8/9/2009
  • David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Referencias

National Cancer Institute. Adult primary liver cancer treatment PDQ. Updated May 22, 2009.

Roberts LR. Liver and biliary tract tumors. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 206.

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