Diseases of the liver

The liver is a central organ where many essential substances for the body are produced and also broken down. Among other things, it produces important blood coagulation factors, bile, and Protein. In addition, it detoxifies the body by breaking down medications and other endogenous products, among other things.

A healthy liver weighs around 1.5 kg. Its treatment requires specialized diagnostics and experience, which is why it should take place in a hospital that performs a large number of these procedures and has the appropriate facilities (intensive care unit, interventional radiology, interventional gastroenterology/endoscopy, high-resolution imaging).

Good to know: Malignant liver diseases are also well treatable today.

Benign liver diseases

Liver cyst

This refers to a fluid-filled cavity embedded in liver tissue. Liver cysts are considered benign tumors, are not dangerous, and usually do not require therapy. However, if they reach a certain size and cause symptoms by pressing on surrounding tissue or adjacent organs such as the stomach, the liver cyst can be removed minimally invasively in the context of a laparoscopy.

Liver hemangioma

These so-called hemangiomas are the most common benign tumors in the liver. They are usually discovered by chance during an ultrasound.

Therapy: An indication for surgery exists only if deeper and larger hemangiomas obstruct the flow of bile fluid or if they reach a size that poses a rupture risk.

Adenomas, focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH)

These growths in the liver are more common in women. It is suspected that there is a connection with the intake of contraceptives like the pill. They are often incidental findings and usually do not cause symptoms. However, if they do, e.g. lead to a feeling of pressure or pain in the upper abdomen, surgery may be advisable. Surgery is also recommended if a certain size is exceeded, as there is then a certain risk of degeneration.

Malignant diseases of the liver

Liver cancer

Under this term, malignant tumors of the liver are grouped together. A distinction is made between tumors that originate from the liver tissue itself and those that originate from the bile ducts in the liver. Depending on the localization, size, and underlying condition, surgery may be indicated – but minimally invasive procedures such as radiofrequency or microwave ablation may also be considered. At specialized centers, these procedures are performed minimally invasively and robotically assisted.

Liver metastases

These are deposits of a malignant tumor located elsewhere in the body, usually in the digestive tract,appear. Liver metastases make up the majority of malignant liver neoplasms. But these metastases can also be treated today.

Therapy: With precise and modern diagnostics (liver-specific MRI, thin-section CT, possibly PET-CT), an individual treatment can be assembled from various methods. This multimodal therapy concept includes chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and/or surgery as well as minimally invasive procedures such as microwave or radiofrequency ablation. These procedures are often combined in different stages. Under these conditions, many patients can also be cured in advanced stages.