What is metastatic colon cancer to the liver?
As the name suggests, metastatic colon cancer to the liver occurs when colon cancer spreads to the liver. In the United States,
140,000 new cases of colon cancer are diagnosed each year – making it one of the most frequently encountered cancers. Of those
patients, approximately 60% will have the colon cancer spread to the liver (liver metastases). Consequently, for patients
in the United States, metastatic colon cancer is 10 to 20 times more common than primary cancers of the liver (HCC or cholangiocarcinoma).
How is this type of liver cancer diagnosed?
Typically, metastatic colon cancer to the liver is identified when a colon cancer patient has an elevated CEA blood test or
has an ultrasound, CT scan or MRI scan that shows an abnormal mass in the liver. Often, a liver biopsy is performed to confirm
that the mass represents metastatic colon cancer. In other cases, a patient may complain of abdominal pain or may have abnormal
liver function tests, which can also lead to the discovery of the tumor.
How is this type of liver cancer treated?
How metastatic colon cancer is treated depends on the extent of the disease. The first step: a comprehensive evaluation that
includes blood tests and a CT scan of the chest, abdomen and pelvis. If the tumor is confined to the liver with no signs of
extra-hepatic disease, surgical resection is the best option. This approach gives the patient the best chance for long-term survival or cure. Sometimes, in a single
operation a large tumor in one lobe of the liver can be removed surgically while a smaller tumor in the other lobe can be
treated by thermal destruction with radiofrequency ablation (RFA).
Our medical oncologist consults with patients and the surgical team regarding the possibility of post-operative, follow-up
chemotherapy (systemic or regional).
Other treatment options at Jefferson include:
Contact us
To schedule an appointment with a Jefferson physician call 1-800-JEFF-NOW or click here.
To contact the Liver Tumor Program team at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson, please call 215-503-8752 and/or fax your records to 215-503-8755. We aim to schedule your first clinic visit within two weeks of your diagnosis being made and records being received.
