Liver cancer
Primary liver cancer is cancer that started in the liver. There are 5 main types. The type depends on the type of cell that the cancer started in.
Primary liver cancer is different to cancer that spreads to your liver from somewhere else in your body. This is called secondary liver cancer or liver metastases.
Go to our information about secondary liver cancer
Hepatocellular carcinoma is also called hepatoma or HCC. It's the most common type of primary liver cancer. Because of this, the information in this primary liver cancer section is mostly about hepatocellular carcinoma.
This type of liver cancer develops from the main liver cells called hepatocytes. It's more common in people with cirrhosis. Cirrhosis means scarring of the liver due to previous damage. For example, damage from the hepatitis B or C virus, or long term alcohol drinking above the recommended levels or .
Hepatocellular carcinoma is more likely to develop in men than in women. It becomes more common as you get older.
Fibrolamellar carcinoma is a rare type of HCC.
Fibrolamellar carcinoma tends to develop in people in their 20s or 30s. It’s not usually linked with cirrhosis or infection with hepatitis B or C.
Some people with other types of liver cancer can have high levels of a chemical called alpha fetoprotein (AFP) in their blood. This is usually not the case for people with fibrolamellar carcinoma.
Cholangio refers to the bile ducts, so cholangiocarcinoma is cancer of the bile ducts. The bile ducts are tubes that connect the liver and gallbladder to the small bowel. They carry bile, which is made by the liver. Bile helps to digest fats in food.
Bile duct cancer is rare. Cancer that starts in the ducts outside the liver is called extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Cancer that starts in the ducts inside the liver is called intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is a type of primary liver cancer.
Angiosarcoma is also known as haemangiosarcoma. It’s a type of cancer called a soft tissue sarcoma.
This type of cancer begins in the blood vessels of the liver, and is extremely rare. It is most often diagnosed in older people.
Hepatoblastoma is a very rare type of primary liver cancer that usually affects young children. It's most often diagnosed in children under 2.
Most growths (tumours) in the liver are benign. They aren’t cancer and usually won’t become cancerous (malignant) in the future.
Benign tumours do not usually need treatment. This can depend on the size of the tumour and whether it's causing symptoms.
The most common types of benign tumours in the liver are:
haemangioma
hepatic adenoma
focal nodular hyperplasia
Find out about the differences between benign and malignant tumours
Last reviewed: 18 Mar 2025
Next review due: 17 Mar 2028
Liver cancer is a cancer that starts in the liver. You might hear it called primary liver cancer.
You usually start by seeing your GP. They might refer you for tests or to a specialist if you have symptoms that could be caused by liver cancer.
Your treatment for liver cancer depends on the stage of your cancer and how well your liver is working. The most common treatments are surgery, heat treatment, drug treatments and radiotherapy.
The stage of a cancer tells you how big it is and how far it’s spread. It helps your doctor decide which treatment you need.
Primary liver cancer is cancer that started in the liver. This section is mainly about the most common type of liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Secondary liver cancer is when a cancer that started somewhere else in the body has spread to the liver. It is also called liver metastases.
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