intrahepatic and extrahepatic

Discussion Board Forums General Discussion intrahepatic and extrahepatic

Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • #62206
    formydad
    Member

    What a crazy cancer! How is your husband doing? Great they could remove the tumor.

    #62205
    betzeegirl
    Spectator

    My husband (dx April 9 2012), had a tumor removed from his liver (which would seem like intra) which was made up of cells typically found in extrahepatic cancer!

    #62204
    formydad
    Member

    I know. After all the conversations and reading it seems that makes the most sense. I continue to get more information from my mom daily. I’m kinda putting all the pieces together. I appreciate your input! :-))

    #62203
    Eli
    Spectator

    Formydad,

    I’m sorry if I confused you, but I did *not* say it was Intrahepatic CC.

    What I wrote in my last post is just one possible option. There are a few others. For example, see Percy’s post where he explained how hilar CC at the “Y” junction can grow into the liver.

    It’s hard to tell what it is without knowing all the details. You have to find out more information to fully understand what your dad has.

    #62202
    formydad
    Member

    Ok. So, it is Intrahepatic CC. Thanks. This too helps me make sense of things. Gosh. I hate it.

    #62201
    Eli
    Spectator

    Formydad,

    You wrote:

    Quote:
    I don’t know which my father has. Originally cancer supposedly started in liver but after further tests it is said that it started in bile duct and had moved to liver.

    There is another way to explain what you wrote. The tumor was completely inside the liver, but the doctors didn’t know if it was hepatocellular carcinoma or intrahepatic CC.

    Hepatocellular carcinoma is cancer of the liver. It starts in the liver cells. As it grows, it can penetrate the bile ducts.

    Intrahepatic CC is the opposite. It starts in the ducts and penetrates the liver as it grows.

    These two cancers can look very similar on the images. The doctors need to biopsy the tumor to figure out what it is.

    #62200
    formydad
    Member

    Thanks for the clarification! I’m a visual person. I better understand now.

    #62199
    pcl1029
    Member

    Hi,
    Indeed, look at Eli’s picture and you will understand better if the tumor is located on the “Y” junction between the letter R and L. And it grows up into one side or both side of the liver. But remember, this is a drawing only, the actual “bile duct ” — the green one are located tightly under the liver ,so it is not difficult for the tumor to spread and grow into the liver. I think that is what your dad had.
    Good job ! Eli.
    God bless.

    #62198
    pcl1029
    Member

    Hi,
    The answer is yes, the patient can have both intra and extra hepatic CCA .
    Hilar CCA is the example ; depending on the tumor location it can grow into the liver both to the left or right side of the liver or either side of the lobe.
    You did not mentioned what stage it is or instead of using traditional chemotherapy, your father opted for a phase I clinical trial using a MET 1/2 pathway inhibitor, which discovered several years ago for antiimflamatory usage but now finds out it may be of benefit to solid tumors too.
    BTW, MET inhibitors are hot this year in the ASCO meeting( that means more dollars will be spend on research on them.
    God bless.

    #62197
    Eli
    Spectator

    Here’s a good picture of the bile ducts (green color):

    liver_small_2.jpg

    Both intrahepatic and extrahepatic CC start in the bile ducts.

    Intrahepatic CC starts in the thin ducts that are spread throughout the liver.

    Extrahepatic CC starts in the thick portion of the bile duct that sits outside the liver.

    If CC starts at the point where the ducts exit the liver, it’s called different names. Perihilar CC, or hilar CC, or Klatskin tumor.

    #6991
    formydad
    Member

    This may be a silly questions but is it possible to have both? Like I said in my original post, my parents don’t provide a lot of info, for fear of causing stress. I am trying to read different articles, definitions, and explanations but I can’t figure it out. Is there a simple definition of both and if so may I have it please? I don’t know which my father has. Originally cancer supposedly started in liver but after further tests it is said that it started in bile duct and had moved to liver. Any explanation would be appreciated!

Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)
  • The forum ‘General Discussion’ is closed to new topics and replies.