About Liver Cancer

Liver lesion prior to cryablation

Ice ball formation during cryoablation

Total ablation of the lesion

Liver cancer has no outward symptoms and is often discovered when someone is having medical tests for other reasons. Liver cancer is sometimes the result of colorectal cancer cells that spread to the liver, but some liver tumors develop in the liver initially (known as primary tumors). People with alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver or hepatitis B or C should be screened for primary liver tumors.

Am I a Candidate?

An ideal candidate for cryosurgery to treat liver cancer

is a patient with multiple tumors on more than one area of the liver. Surgical removal of up to 75% of the liver is possible (the liver will regenerate itself if at least 25% of its original mass is retained) if the tumors are concentrated on the same area of the liver. Cryosurgery destroys just the tumor (s) and a minimal amount of normal liver in the area of the tumor, which preserves liver function. Other options for treating liver cancer include surgical removal of tumors, surgical removal of up to 75% of the liver, chemotherapy or radiofrequency ablation. If you have liver cancer, ask your doctor which treatment is best for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is cryosurgery performed on the liver?

Liver cryosurgery is performed to treat a patient with a tumor or tumors on his/her liver.

Is cryosurgery equivalent to or replacing another treatment, or is it just a new option?

Liver cryosurgery has been around since the late 1960s, but the technique has been finely honed in the last five years. It does not replace other treatments for liver cancer (surgery, chemotherapy, radiofrequency ablation); it is simply a technique that expands the number of people for whom surgical treatment is an option.

Is cryosurgery FDA-approved?

Cryosurgery is FDA-approved for treating tumors of the liver, kidney and prostate.

Is cryosurgery covered by insurance and/or Medicare?

Yes.

Once the tumor is frozen, will it be removed or left in place?

The tumor is left in place after the procedure.

Is cryosurgery an open surgery or can it be performed minimally invasively?

Cryosurgery on the liver can be performed in a minimally invasive manner, which reduces patient recovery time.

Is cryosurgery ever performed in conjunction with another liver cancer treatment?

Cryosurgery is sometimes combined with other treatments for liver cancer (surgery, chemotherapy, radiofrequency ablation) in order to obtain the best outcome for the patient.

Does liver cryosurgery just extend someone’s life or can it be a cure?

Liver cryosurgery generally extends a liver cancer patient’s life span and improves quality of life by reducing tumor-related symptoms. It is occasionally curative.