Glossary
Aflatoxicosis
a poisoning resulting from the ingestion of aflatoxins in contaminated food or feed. The toxins are often produced by a mold that grows in walnuts, seeds and legumes in Asia and Africa.
Read more on Aflatoxicosis: Risk Factors
Ascites
fluid build-up in the abdomen
Read more on Ascites: Signs and Symptoms
Bile
yellowish-brown or green liquid secreted by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. Bile assists in digestion and absorption of food and fat digestion
Read more on Bile: About Liver Cancer
Cirrhosis
the replacement of normal liver cells with fibrous scar tissue. It is a chronic liver condition characterized by progressive, irreversible scarring and fibrosis that can eventually impair liver function.
Read more on Cirrhosis: Risk Factors
Computed tomography (CT)
uses X-rays to make detailed pictures of structures inside the body
Read more on Computed tomography (CT): Screening and Diagnosis
Cryosurgery
the use of subzero temperatures to freeze the tumor. Liquid nitrogen is injected directly into the tumor under ultrasound guidance. The tumor is frozen and thawed twice. The procedure can be performed alone or in conjunction with a liver resection.
Read more on Cryosurgery: Treatment
Fatty liver
the accumulation of fat in liver cells; most commonly caused by obesity and/or chronic alcohol use.
Read more on Fatty liver: Risk Factors
Fibrosis
development of fibrous scar tissue; occurs during cirrhosis
Read more on Fibrosis: Risk Factors
Gallbladder
small, pear-shaped sac that sits in a shallow groove on the surface of the liver; stores and concentrates bile not immediately required for digestion, then releases it when food enters the small intestine.
Read more on Gallbladder: About the Liver
Hepatic artery
artery that supplies the liver with oxygen-rich blood from the descending aorta.
Read more on Hepatic artery: About the Liver
Hepatitis
inflammation of the liver most commonly caused by a virus.
Read more on Hepatitis: Risk Factors
Hepatologist
gastroenterology doctors who further specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the liver, such as hepatitis or cirrhosis, and most have also completed additional study in the area of liver transplantation. Hepatologists may perform many specialized tests to diagnose liver disease or obtain liver biopsies. (webMD)
Read more on Hepatologist: Treatment
Jaundice
yellowing of the whites of the eyes and skin
Read more on Jaundice: Signs and Symptoms
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
uses a magnetic field and pulses of radiowave energy to make pictures of organs and structures inside the body
Read more on Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Screening and Diagnosis
Metastasize
to spread.
Read more on Metastasize: Overview
Non-alcohol fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
a range of conditions characterized by fat accumulation in the liver in people who drink little or no alcohol; primary causes include obesity, diabetes and high triglyceride levels; frequently progresses to the inflammatory condition non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
Read more on Non-alcohol fatty liver disease (NAFLD): Risk Factors
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
inflammatory condition caused by fat accumulation in the liver; can lead to cirrhosis and other types of chronic liver disease.
Read more on Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH): Risk Factors
Percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI)
therapeutic procedure that consists of an injection of alcohol or other substances into the liver, which results in destruction of the tumor. This technique is performed under ultrasound guidance.
Read more on Percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI): Treatment
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)
treatment method involving a probe that is inserted into or next to a tumor mass and heat from the probe kills the cancer cells in the tumor mass.
Read more on Radiofrequency ablation (RFA): Treatment
Resection
surgical removal
Read more on Resection: Treatment
Steatosis
accumulation of fat in organ tissue
Read more on Steatosis: Risk Factors
Systemic Therapy
treatment that affects the whole body. Some systemic therapies, like sorafenib, target tumor cells.
Read more on Systemic Therapy: Treatment
Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE)
a procedure in which the blood supply to the tumor is blocked and anticancer drugs are administered directly into the tumor. It allows a higher concentration of drugs to be in contact with the tumor for a longer period of time.
Read more on Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE): Treatment
Ultrasound
uses reflected sound waves to produce images of organs and other structures in the body.
Read more on Ultrasound: Screening and Diagnosis
