Hepatobiliary tumours

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma are the two major types of primary liver tumour. Both are increasing in incidence in the UK, in the case of HCC because of the increasing prevalence of chronic liver disease, particularly caused by alcohol and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. They have a poor overall prognosis because of late presentation and the presence of underlying liver cirrhosis in patients with HCC. Patients usually present with a liver mass or jaundice. Assessment is primarily radiological by means of computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging.