After a cancer diagnosis, the cancer is then staged. This involves other tests to see where the cancer has spread to and whether it's anywhere else in the body. Tools used to stage liver cancer include the X-ray, CT scan, MRI, bone scan and ultrasound. Staging is a standardized way of classifying the extent and spread of the cancer. Once staging is finished, it can help guide treatment and prognosis.
Stage 3A
In Stage 3A liver cancer, there is more than one tumor on the liver, at at least one of them is more than 2cm, according to the American Cancer Society. A tumor may also be growing into a major vein in the liver, such as the portal or hepatic vein. No cancer is found in the lymph nodes or in other organs in this stage.
Stage 3B
In this stage of liver cancer, the cancer is found in organs near the liver, not including the gallbladder. It may also have spread to the lining of the abdomen, called the peritoneum. Like the previous sub-stage, there is no cancer in lymph nodes or other organs.
Stage 3C
Stage 3C liver cancer describes tumors of any size or number, and lymph nodes in the liver region are cancerous. Distant organs are cancer-free.
Stage 4A
In Stage 4A liver cancer, tumors on the liver can be any size or number, and surrounding organs and blood vessels may be involved. In this stage, cancer is found in the lymph nodes but not in distant organs.
Stage 4B
The last stage of liver cancer, Stage 4B, is metastatic liver cancer. This means the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. The tumors can be any size, lymph nodes may or may not be cancerous, and any amount of tumors may be present.
