If you have symptoms of liver cancer, your doctor will do an exam, go through your medical history and recommend tests. At the Knight Cancer Institute, we offer the expertise and the most advanced tests to give you a precise diagnosis. 

Blood tests

• Liver function tests measure levels of certain substances in your blood that show how well the liver is working.
• Hepatitis tests check for infections with the hepatitis B or C virus.
• An alpha-fetoprotein test checks for a protein produced by many liver cancers, though other conditions can also cause levels to rise. 

Imaging tests

• Ultrasound uses sound waves to create images of the liver. 
• CT scans, also called computed tomography scans, use special X-rays to produce 3D images. A CT scan can show the location, size and shape of tumors.
• MRI scans, also known as magnetic resonance imaging, use a large magnet and radio waves to create detailed images of tissue inside the body. An MRI scan can confirm a liver cancer diagnosis and find cancer that has spread.
• Bone scans check for cancer that has spread to bones. In this test, tiny amounts of radioactive material are injected into the bloodstream and travel to the bones. The material collects in cancer cells, highlighting them on scans.

Biopsy

In a biopsy, your care team removes a small tissue sample to test it for cancer. Doctors usually use thin needles guided by ultrasound or a CT scan to remove tissue from the liver.

A doctor looks at the tissue under a microscope to look for cancer cells. If cancer is present, the doctor will look to see what type of cancer it is and how fast it might spread. 

Learn more

• Liver Cancer Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute
• Tests for Liver Cancer, American Cancer Society