Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a type of cancer that originates in the liver cells themselves. It tends to develop as a single large mass within the liver, though sometimes multiple nodules form. This is distinct from cancers that spread to the liver from elsewhere in the body. Many dogs with hepatocellular carcinoma show no signs at all in the early stages, and a mass may be discovered incidentally during imaging for another reason or during routine health screening in older animals. When signs do appear, they are often vague—reduced appetite, weight loss, occasional vomiting, or a general sense that the dog is not quite right. Because the liver has significant reserve capacity, signs may not emerge until the tumour is quite large. In cats, this tumour is much less common. This page explores the signals that may prompt investigation, what is happening at a cellular level, how hepatocellular carcinoma is identified and staged, and the range of approaches that may be considered depending on the tumour's size, location, and whether it has spread beyond the liver.