Sol in Liver: Meaning, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnostic, Treatment

Also known as liver lesions, Space-occupying lesions (SOL) is an uncontrolled proliferation of the liver cells, which can be cystic, solid or heterogeneous. Sol in the liver can heal independently and doesn't require further treatment.

But these lesions can also be cancerous (malignant) in some cases and can affect other body parts. Hence, immediate treatment should be provided to the patient. The exact cause of the sol in the liver isn't known. But in a few cases, they result from cirrhosis, heavy alcohol consumption or maybe present at birth. 

These are the following types of sol in the liver found: 

Benign liver lesion: The benign liver tumours are often symptomless. Most benign tumours vanish themselves. However, some of them may continue to grow. When this happens, these lesions are treated with the help of medicines or surgical methods. 

There are many types of benign lesions. Some of the following are given below: 

1. Hemangioma: Hemangiomas are the most common non-cancerous tumours. They usually appear as a rubbery, bright red birthmark on the scalp, chest, face, or back. Most hemangiomas fade away with time; by age 10, there's usually little to no trace left. 
   Hemangiomas do not require any treatment unless they cause difficulty breathing, listening, seeing, etc. 
2. Liver cysts: These cysts are fluid-filled spaces localised in the liver. Liver cysts often signify severe underlying liver diseases, such as polycystic liver disease and liver cancer. 
3. Focular Nodular Hyperplasia (FNH): These liver lesions are the second most frequent benign tumour after Hemangioma. Women of childbearing age are more prone to develop FNH than others. But it could also affect men. Often, Focular Nodular Hyperplasia possesses no symptoms. 
4. Hepatic adenoma: Also referred to as hepatocellular adenomas, hepatic adenomas are linked with oral contraceptive pills. Not only that, but they also develop in patients with aplastic anaemia. Hepatic adenomas are rare. But they can cause bleeding and turn malignant as well. 

Malignant liver lesions: These are the following malignant sol in the liver:

1. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): Hepatocellular carcinoma is said to be the most common malignant liver tumour. People with chronic liver diseases are more likely to develop Hepatocellular carcinoma. These liver lesions need immediate treatment. Otherwise, they can be fatal and may even cause death.
2. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is the second most common malignant tumour after Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It accounts for 10% of all malignant liver tumours. Most of these cancers begin their cycle outside the liver, in the bile duct.
3. Angiosarcoma and Hemangiosarcoma: These malignant liver lesions start in the cells lining the liver's blood vessels. The specific cause of Angiosarcoma and Hemangiosarcoma are yet to be described. Nevertheless, they are believed to be caused by exposure to vinyl chloride, arsenic, thorium dioxide, or radium. They are also said to be caused by a hereditary condition, namely hereditary hemochromatosis. 
4. Hepatoblastoma: Hepatoblastoma develops in children under four years of age. Once these tumours spread outside the liver, it becomes pretty challenging to treat them. Still, 2 out of 3 children recover from hepatoblastoma through chemotherapies and surgeries. 
5. Liver metastasis: In liver metastasis, the cancerous lesions develop somewhere else in the body and, over time, spread to the liver. 

Sol in the liver produces a variety of signs and symptoms. Some patients show no symptoms. Meanwhile, others can show numerous symptoms that may indicate the presence of sol in the liver. 

One can notice the following signs in the patient with sol in the liver:

1. Sudden, unexplained loss of weight 
2. Enlargement of liver
3. Enlargement of spleen
4. Swelling in the stomach
5. Yellowing of the skin and eyes. (This condition is referred to as Jaundice)
6. Liver dysfunction (seen in the last stages of liver cancer)

The patient may experience the following sol in the liver symptoms:

1. Nausea 
2. Vomiting
3. Feeling of fullness under the right or left side of the ribs
4. Loss of appetite

Sol in the liver can occur due to a variety of reasons. Sometimes, the exact cause is not known. Nonetheless, they mainly develop due to mutation, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, or using birth control medications. 

Central sol in liver causes are as follows:

Malignant liver lesions

Cancerous lesions occur when the cells begin to multiply uncontrollably due to the changes in the DNA. 

The cause of some specific malignant liver lesions are as follows:

1. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C infection. 
2. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: Factors such as liver parasites, bile duct problems (at birth), and chronic liver diseases 
3. Angiosarcoma and Hemangiosarcoma: Radiation, chronic lymphoedema, and filariasis
4. Hepatoblastoma: Premature birth, low birth weight, and genetic conditions like Trisomy 18 

Benign liver lesions

These are the following causes of some specific benign liver lesions:

1. Hemangioma: malformed blood vessels. 
2. Hepatic adenomas: birth contraceptive pills and anabolic steroids when used for an extended period
3. Focular Nodular Hyperplasia (FNH): malformation of liver arteries.
4. Liver cysts: echinococcus infection. 

Other possible causes of sol in the liver could be as follows:

1. Liver cirrhosis
2. Smoking/ alcohol consumption

Apart from Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, there are many other risk factors for the sol in the liver. Some of them are given below:

1. Diabetes
2. Heavy alcohol consumption
3. Smoking
4. Being male
5. Food tainted by aflatoxin fungus

One could prevent sol development in the liver by carefully evaluating its risk factors. To prevent sol in the liver, people should avoid the following:

1. Any possibility of contracting a Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C virus. (These infections are mainly spread by maintaining physical relations with an infected person or acquiring contaminated blood).
2. Consuming alcohol 
3. Smoking
4. Exposure to radiation, vinyl chloride, arsenic, thorium dioxide, or radium.
5. Using birth-controlling pills now and then. 
6. Using anabolic steroids.

There is no specific test to diagnose sol in the liver. It usually depends on the signs and symptoms the patient show. However, MRI is often the preferred method to scan the liver. 

The diagnosis process of sol in the liver is a combination of studying the patient's medical history and performing various clinical and laboratory examinations. 

Sol in liver diagnosis is carried out by checking out the following:

Patient's History

The doctor will ask the patient about the following:

1. Any past cases of Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C. 
2. current medications, including ayurvedic and herbal medicines (if any).

The doctor may also ask if the patient has the following: 

1. used any contraceptive pills or anabolic steroids
2. any genetic disorders 
3. exposure to radiation

Clinical Examination

The doctor may conduct physical exams to check symptoms, such as:

1. Enlargement of the spleen
2. Swelling in the stomach
3. Enlargement of the liver 
4. Jaundice, etc

Investigations (If any)

1. Tissue Removal: By removing a piece of liver tissue to diagnose liver disease. 
2. Imaging Tests:
   1. Ultrasound: This can be the first imaging test a patient would undergo. It helps to find out any lesions/ tumours in the liver. 
   2. CT Scan: By making a detailed image of the liver, a CT scan helps to find out the exact shape, size, and location of a liver lesion. 
   3. MRI: With the help of radio waves, the doctor can find out the following:
      1. If there is any lesion in the liver, 
      2. The nature of the lesion (benign or malignant), 
      3. And if the lesion has spread to other body parts 
3. Blood Tests
   1. Alpha Feto Protein blood test: Alpha Feto Protein (AFP) is high in people with liver lesions. Therefore, the AFP test helps diagnose the possibility of sol in the liver.
   2. Blood clotting test: A healthy liver helps in blood clotting. Thus, a blood clotting test can diagnose if the liver is in good condition. 
   3. Liver function test: It helps assess the liver's functionality and includes tests like the Alanine transaminase (ALT) test, Serum alkaline phosphatase test and Aspartate transaminase (AST) test. 

How to prepare for the doctor's consultation? 

1. Make an early appointment to visit the doctor's clinic.
2. Carry previous medical reports (if any).
3. The doctor will ask questions about the undergoing treatment (in case of any disease)
4. Wear comfortable clothes. So the doctor can quickly diagnose the disease with physical examinations.
5. The doctor shall also advise various diagnostic tests to confirm the disease. 

What questions should you ask the Doctor about Sol in the liver? 

Patients can ask many questions to their doctor, including:

1. Can the lesion be treated without surgery?
2. Is the lesion benign or malignant?
3. Do I need to undergo a liver transplant?
4. Do I have to undergo chemotherapy?
5. What is the optimal time of surgery in my case?
6. Is the lesion life-threatening?
7. What is the recovery period?
8. What foods should I eat and avoid?
9. How can I relieve my liver pain?
10. Why do I need to undergo surgery?
11.  Is there any alternative to surgery?

Patients with sol in the liver require severe treatment (in case of a malignant lesion). Hence, talking to an experienced team of doctors and getting the proper treatment is necessary. At HexaHealth, we have a qualified team of cancer specialists who can help to treat sol in the liver and increase life expectancy. Get on a free consultation call with us right away! 

Sol in liver treatment depends on the nature and stage of the lesion. Therefore, the doctors can decide on one of the following treatments: 

Non Surgical Methods

Ablation: The doctor uses heat or chemicals to kill the liver lesions. This is performed in cases where liver lesions are small in size. These are the following sub-types of ablation:

1. Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
2. Microwave Ablation (MWA)
3. Cryoablation
4. Ethanol Ablation

Medical Therapy

1. Chemotherapy: It is a drug treatment that kills the growing cells with the help of solid drugs. However, chemo drugs are not such great medications for liver lesions. As a result, a combination of several chemo drugs is often used. 

Surgical Methods: Sometimes, surgery for the sol in the liver is the last option left. There are two types of surgeries generally performed, and they are as follows:

1. Partial Hepatectomy: Patients with liver lesions only in small areas undergo this liver surgery. 
2. Liver Transplant: Patients with an extensive liver lesion, which could also spread to other body parts, undergo a liver transplant. In this surgery, the whole liver is replaced with a healthy liver.

It is believed to be the best treatment for malignant liver lesions. However, it is often impossible to get a liver transplant due to the following:

1. Lack of donors
2. Long waiting lists