What is Spindle Cell Hepatocellular Carcinoma?
Spindle cell hepatocellular carcinoma is a rare type of liver cancer that consists of spindle-shaped cells. It accounts for approximately 2% of all liver cancer cases. This usually has a poor prognosis and tends to metastasize (the ability of the tumour to spread from the site of origin to other parts of the body). The most common sites of metastasis are the lymph nodes, lungs, and spinal cord. It mostly develops in older people. It is more common in males than females. It shows a poor prognosis with 3 a year survival rate is less than 20%.Disease Causes
There is no well-known cause.Signs and Symptoms
- Constant feeling of tiredness
- Unintentional weight loss
- Yellowish colour of the skin and the eyes
- Dark yellowish colour of the urine
- Constant Fever
Diagnosis
The following diagnostic techniques and procedures can be used to make a diagnosis. These are- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Blood coagulation profile
- BUN ( blood urea and nitrogen)
- Serum creatinine
- Liver function tests LFTs
- Amylase and lipase values
- Imaging techniques like CT scan, MRI, PET scan, X-Ray, and USG to detect the site and size of the tumour.
- Chol angioscopy (USG of the gall bladder and biliary tree)
- ·Cholangiography
- MRCP (Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
- Serum bilirubin total, serum bilirubin conjugated and unconjugated
- Preoperative biopsy
- Hepatocellular markers