Liver melanoma
Melanoma is an aggressive type of skin cancer that develops from melanocytes and leads to the spread of metastases in 20% of patients. One of the most common areas of melanoma metastasis is the liver.
Symptoms of the spread of melanoma to the liver
It is quite difficult to recognize the symptoms of hepatic melanoma on your own. Many people do not notice anything unusual, while they are actively developing liver metastases. Some people report feeling discomfort or abdominal pain and have one or more of the following symptoms:
- constant feeling of weakness;
- loss of appetite;
- unreasonable weight loss;
- fever;
- abdominal distension;
- skin itching;
- swelling of the legs;
- yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice).
If such symptoms occur, it is urgently necessary to undergo a liver diagnosis.
Diagnosis of metastatic liver melanoma
To determine the melanoma in the liver and the prognosis of the patient's life span (how far the cancer has spread), modern clinics conduct a series of tests, including blood tests, imaging and biopsy. The blood is checked for tumor markers, which are produced by cancer cells or the body itself produces in response to tumors. The liver enzyme level is also checked. An abnormally high indicator indicates damage to the cells of the organ.
The following imaging tests are used to determine the location of the tumor and the general condition of the liver:
CT and MRI scans provide detailed cross-sectional images of the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, nearby lymph nodes, and other internal organs.;
Ultrasound shows the difference between a benign tumor and cancerous tissue, as well as the presence of blood clots in the hepatic vein.;
PET-CT helps to find out the exact location of the melanoma metastasis in the liver and find out how much the tumor has grown.
A biopsy of liver melanoma metastases allows you to find out how far the tumor has spread and what types of cells it contains. A small tissue sample is taken using a needle under the guidance of ultrasound, CT or MRI. In some cases, laparoscopy is performed. Having information about the genetic makeup of the tumor helps you choose the most effective treatment methods. To do this, we search for specific mutations in several genes.
The stage of melanoma in liver metastasis
Since melanoma metastases have already spread to the liver, stage IV cancer is diagnosed (this is the last stage).
In the case of liver melanoma, surgery, interferon immunotherapy, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or targeted therapy are mainly prescribed. To develop an effective treatment plan, modern clinics use the latest surgical techniques, including minimally invasive approaches and interventional radiology. The method of combining hepatic arterial chemotherapy with surgery shows good results. This procedure allows drugs to be injected directly into the liver through an abdominal pump, reducing the side effects of drugs on the entire body. Advanced treatment helps to reduce pain and buy the time needed for recovery.
