Tests to Diagnose Liver Cancer
To diagnose liver cancer, your health care provider needs to collect a lot of information and may order the following tests:
- Physical exam
- Liver function tests to find out how well your liver is working
- Additional blood tests
- Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) test, which may indicate liver cancer if these levels are high
- Calcium and cholesterol levels, which increase in the presence of liver cancer
- Complete blood count (CBC), to see whether your bone marrow is making enough red and white blood cells
- Blood clotting tests to see how well your blood is clotting, which is a function of the liver
- Hepatitis B and C tests, since these viral infections increase your risk for liver cancer
- Imaging studies to take pictures of your liver to help locate any problems
- CT scan (x-rays)
- MRI (magnetic rays)
- Ultrasound (sound waves)
- Angiography
- Laparoscopy
- Liver Biopsy - A liver biopsy is a minor surgical procedure that involves taking a very small sample of your liver to confirm a diagnosis of liver cancer
Additional Information
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network provides a detailed chart for health care professionals that shows the steps involved in diagnosing liver cancer.