The liver performs many vital functions, including supporting the metabolism of glucose, manufacturing the blood protein albumin, and breaking down drugs so they can be excreted from the body. Mild damage may go unnoticed. Severe damage impairs...
Ascites is an abnormal accumulation of fluid on the abdomen. Around 80 percent of people with ascites have cirrhosis of the liver, Glen Hastings, M.D., of the University of Kansas Wichita School of Medicine states. Heart failure, kidney disease,...
Water retention results in the accumulation of fluid in the body cavities and tissues. In cases of midriff water retention, the fluid accumulates in the abdominal cavity, making it difficult to breathe and perform normal daily activities. Several...
Paracentesis is a procedure performed both for diagnostic and treatment purposes. It involves removing fluid from the abdomen via a needle. Conditions such as cirrhosis of the liver, certain abdominal and pelvic malignancies and abdominal...
Proteins of many types circulate in the blood. The liver produces many of the blood proteins from building blocks absorbed through the intestine from the diet. Normally, the kidneys prevent protein losses through the urine by conserving blood...
The American Cancer Society reports that the number one most deadly reproductive cancer for women is ovarian cancer. The mortality rate of this cancer closely relates to the stage at diagnosis. Most ovarian cancers are found in advanced stages of...
The liver is an organ in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen, just under the ribcage. Its basic functions include breaking down fats, filtering harmful substances from the blood and producing cholesterol. Many different infections, substances...
Alcoholic or Laennec's cirrhosis typically occurs when 80 percent to 90 percent of the liver's normal tissue has been destroyed by the chronic abuse of alcohol. The liver's main functions include storing and metabolizing nutrients, filtering...
Mesothelioma is a cancerous tumor occurring in the lining of the lung ,abdominal cavity, chest cavity, or the sac that protects the heart as well as the protective tissue that surrounds most of the internal organs. Caused by breathing asbestos...
Abdominal bloating is an uncomfortable condition with many possible causes. Abdominal swelling can be a one-time experience or part of a chronic health problem, depending on the cause. According to MedlinePlus, an online service of the National...
Ovarian cancer is an insidious cancer that often spreads to other organs before it's detected. Ovarian cancer spreads before it's detected in at least 20 percent of the cases, according to the Mayo Clinic. Ovarian cancer that spreads to the liver,...
Cancer and its treatment may cause a myriad of side effects and complications, including the buildup of fluid in certain areas of the body. Fluid buildup may have many different causes, and once the cause is established, treatment can occur. If an...
Cirrhosis of the liver is a scarring of your liver's tissue due to a chronic liver disease. Your liver plays a key role in the production of some proteins, and liver damage may decrease these functions. Further, while eating protein is necessary...
Cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver, occurs after long-term disease of the liver on an injury involving the liver, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The liver fights infections, stores energy and...
According to the American Cancer Society, epithelial ovarian carcinomas comprise 85 to 90 percent of all ovarian cancer. Epithelial cancers involve the cells on the outside or surface of the ovary. Staging of these ovarian cancers begins with...
Sclerosing cholangitis, more often called primary sclerosing cholangitis, or PSC, causes narrowing and scarring of the bile ducts that lead to the liver. This disorder often occurs in people with autoimmune disorders such as sarcoidosis or in...
Cirrhosis consists of a permanent and progressive destruction of healthy liver tissue. Causes of cirrhosis vary widely, with alcoholism the most prevalent. In the final stages of cirrhosis, tough fibrous scarring replaces the once healthy tissue...
Portal hypertension refers to increased pressure in the portal vein, the vein that goes from the gastrointestinal tract to the liver. The most common cause is cirrhosis of the liver. Other causes include certain types of heart disease, which...
Cirrhosis refers to toughening, or fibrosis, of the liver. Many different conditions lead to cirrhosis, including alcohol dependence and hepatitis. The symptoms of cirrhosis are a result of reduced functioning of the liver as well as mechanical...
The liver is a large organ in the abdomen that has a variety of functions. It cleans toxins and waste products from the blood, and it also makes proteins that assist in blood clotting. The liver can be damaged by some poisons (such as alcohol),...
The liver is responsible for many different functions in the body, some so important that failure to do them can lead to death. The liver helps to filter blood and break down old red blood cells, helps digest food, make important proteins, filter...
The liver, found in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen, acts as the body's initial filtering system as well as a manufacturing center for a number of necessary substances. The liver, which can repair itself up to a certain point, is often...
Cancer that has spread from the primary location to other organs or parts of the body is called metastatic disease. The liver is a common place for metastases--especially from the breast, lung and gastrointestinal tract tumors like colon cancer,...
Exposure to asbestos, whether by working in an asbestos industry or through accidental contact with asbestos fibers, can increase the risk of developing cancer. People who worked in an asbestos-related industry for many years are at the highest...
Liver problems can arise for many reasons. Sometimes the problem is genetic. The immune system may attack the liver. Cancers can grow in the liver or metastasize to the liver from other organs. Drugs such as alcohol and high doses of Tylenol can...
Diuretics, drugs that remove excess fluid from the body, do not cause liver disease. People with liver disease often take diuretics to treat complications of the disorder. Diuretics can improve or, in some cases, worsen the symptoms and...
Long term excessive alcohol intake causes chronic diseases in several organ systems, particularly the liver. Alcohol causes a range of liver diseases. It can cause the liver to become fatty, termed alcoholic steatosis. The liver may become...
Cirrhosis is irreversible damage to the cells in the liver from scarring. Cirrhosis can be caused by hepatitis C infection, alcoholism or metabolic disorders. Ascites, fluid accumulation in the abdomen and lower extremities, is one of the serious...
Fluid balance in the human body requires the coordinated function of multiple body systems. The cardiovascular and urinary systems prove particularly important in regulating the distribution of water between the bloodstream and the body tissues....
Various cancers can spread to the liver, however, liver cancer begins in the cells of the liver itself. Learn about the different causes, symptoms, and treatments for Liver Cancer in this video.
Cirrhosis is a condition that causes irreversible scarring of the liver. As scar tissue replaces normal tissue, blood flow through your liver is affected. Learn about the different causes, symptoms, and treatments for Cirrhosis in this video.