Liver Pathologies Flashcards
Inflammation of the liver, usually from viral infection
Hepatitis
how is HAV and HEV transmitted?
fecal-oral route
How is HBV transmitted?
by contaminated blood, blood products or through sexual contact
How is HCV transmitted?
blood transfusion or sexual contact
What is the most common cause of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma
Hepatitis C (HCV)
HDV can only be contracted by people who ____________
already have HBV
Symptoms of hepatitis:
- painful belly
- bloating
- low grade fever
- jaundice
- nausea
- vomiting
what are the infectious causes of hepatitis?
- viral
- fungal
- parasitic
- bacterial
What are the non-infectious causes of hepatitis?
- alcohol
- drugs
- autoimmune disease
- metabolic disease
Radiographic appearance of hepatitis:
- if its early hepatitis, it wont be seen
- enlarge liver may be seen lifting the right diaphragm
What are the complications of hepatitis?
- cirrhosis
- hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer)
These show up on CT, US, MRI
- End-stage liver disease
- chronic destruction of liver cells and structures
Liver cirrhosis
What does liver cirrhosis do?
- Scar tissue replaces destroyed liver cells therefore no declining number of liver cells
- initially, liver enlarges then, shrivels up as scarring occurs and becomes bumpy and nodular
- decreases albumin production
- obstruction of portal vein
Liver carcinoma/cancer
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Hepatocellular carcinoma most commonly occurs in patients who …
have underlying liver disease (alcohol or post necrotic cirrhosis)
Symptoms of hepatocellular carcinoma:
- abdominal pain and distention
- jaundice
- weight loss
- nausea
- vomiting
- itching
Radiographic appearance of liver cancer:
On CT
- tumors appear as large single mass or multiple small lesions
- with contrast, we see non-uniform enhancement
- tumors may be seen in hepatic and portal venous systems
- hepatic mets show as well marginated lesions that are less dense than normal liver parenchyma
- if over 10cm, classified as giant
- Usually asymptomatic
- hepatic or cavernous
Liver hemangiomas
what is a hemangioma?
Benign vascular tumor
What can liver hemangioma cause?
edema and jaundice
Radiographic appearance of liver hemangiomas:
- hypodense lesions on unenhanced images
- enhancement on contrast images
- enhancement stay during delayed phase
Symptoms of Liver cirrhosis:
- jaundice
- lower limb edema
- ascites
- weight loss
- skin itching
What study is recommended to visualize all aspects of liver cancer?
3 phase liver study
Where might you find tumors when looking for liver cancer?
Within hepatic and portal venous systems
