Liver cancer assessment and surgery
Primary liver cancer starts in the liver. Treatment planning depends on the type and stage of cancer, liver function, tumour location and a person’s overall health. A specialist team may consider surgery, ablation, liver transplant assessment or non-surgical treatments.
Possible signs to discuss with a doctor
- Discomfort or a lump under the right ribs
- Abdominal swelling or unexplained weight loss
- Yellowing of the eyes or skin, dark urine or pale stool
- Reduced appetite, unusual tiredness, nausea or weakness
How it may be assessed
- Clinical history and examination
- Liver-function and tumour-marker blood tests
- Ultrasound, contrast CT or MRI
- Multidisciplinary review to assess stage, liver function and whether surgery is appropriate
Treatment planning may include
- Partial liver resection when the cancer can be safely removed
- Transplant counselling and eligibility assessment for selected patients
- Ablation or embolisation for selected tumours
- Medical oncology, radiation or supportive-care input when required
Before your surgical consultation
- Bring all scan images and written reports
- Bring recent blood-test and biopsy reports, if available
- List current medicines and previous liver treatments
- Write down when symptoms began and any history of hepatitis or cirrhosis
Seek urgent medical care for
- • New or rapidly worsening jaundice
- • Vomiting blood, black stool or unusual bleeding
- • Confusion, marked drowsiness or severe weakness
- • Severe abdominal pain, fever or rapidly increasing swelling
Does every liver tumour need surgery?
No. The best option depends on whether the tumour is cancerous, its size and location, liver function, spread outside the liver and overall health.
Can the liver recover after resection?
The remaining liver can increase in size and function, but safe surgery depends on leaving enough healthy liver. Detailed imaging and liver-function assessment are essential.
Important: This information is for general education. It is not a diagnosis, emergency advice or an individual treatment plan. If you have urgent symptoms, go to the nearest emergency department.
Information sources
Content last updated: 2026-08-26