Title: Liver cancer in cats and dogs

{{Short description|none}}
[[Tumors]] that develop within the [[liver]] may be either [[benign]] (noncancerous) or [[malignant]] (cancerous). Tumors can start in the liver, or spread to the liver from another cancer in the body. Malignant liver tumors have been reported to [[metastasize]] to other organs such as regional lymph nodes, lungs, kidneys, pancreas, spleen and others.

==Signs and symptoms==
Clinical signs are often vague and include weight loss, loss of appetite, fatigue, and possible jaundice.

==Diagnosis==
[[Medical imaging]] techniques such as [[X-rays]], [[Medical ultrasonography|ultrasound]], [[computed tomography]] (CT), and [[magnetic resonance imaging]] (MRI) are often used in evaluating animals with suspected liver tumors. Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration or needle-core [[Liver biopsy|biopsy of liver]] masses are useful diagnostic tools that are minimally invasive to obtain samples for [[Histopathology|histopathological]] analysis.&lt;ref name=MacEwan_2001&gt;{{cite book|veditors=Withrow SJ, MacEwen EG |title=Small Animal Clinical Oncology|edition=3rd|publisher=W.B. Saunders Company |year=2001}}&lt;/ref&gt;

==Treatment==
Surgical treatment is recommended for cats and dogs diagnosed with primary liver tumors but not [[metastasis]] to the liver. There are not many treatment options for animals who have multiple liver lobes affected.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.petcancercenter.org/Cancer_Types_liver.html'' Liver Cancer in Cats and Dogs'' from Pet Cancer Center]
*[http://www.petplace.com/dogs/hepatic-neoplasia-liver-tumors-in-dogs/page1.aspx ''Liver Tumors in Dogs'' from Pet Place']
*[http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/22820.htm&amp;word=hepatic%2cneoplasia ''Hepatic Neoplasia'' from Merck Veterinary Manual']
*[http://www.vetsurgerycentral.com/liver_tumors.htm ''Liver Tumors'' from Vet Surgery Central]
*[http://www.alldoghealth.com/how-to-recognize-canine-liver-cancer-in-dogs ''Liver Cancer in Dogs'' from Alldoghealth']

[[Category:Cancer in dogs]]
[[Category:Cancer in cats]]
[[Category:Types of animal cancers]]