Liver cancer is one of the most challenging cancers to detect and treat, largely because symptoms often appear late. But that’s beginning to change. Advances in imaging technology and growing awareness of high-risk groups are making early detection more common. For those with chronic liver disease or hepatitis, finding liver cancer early can dramatically improve treatment options and survival rates. Here’s how early detection is reshaping liver cancer care, and why it matters more than ever.
Why Early Detection Matters in Liver Cancer
Liver cancer’s silent progression
Liver cancer often develops from cirrhosis, a type of liver damage caused by conditions such as hepatitis or by behaviours like smoking and heavy alcohol use1. Unlike some other cancers, liver cancer often produces no obvious symptoms until it is already at an advanced stage.
As a result, liver cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, when it is harder to treat and survival rates are lower2. Early detection is vital for improving survival and treatment options, making regular screening and preventive measures especially important for those at high risk.
Survival rates and stage at diagnosis
Liver cancer survival rates vary greatly by stage at diagnosis, with earlier diagnosis generally leading to much higher chances of survival2.
As the table shows, liver cancer survival drops sharply by stage. About half of those diagnosed at stage I live at least four years, but only around one in twenty do so at stage IV.
Screening options for at-risk individuals
Since survival improves dramatically with earlier diagnosis, regular screening is crucial for detecting liver cancer early. The need for regular screening is particularly important for people in specific risk groups, such as those with3,4:
- Liver cirrhosis
- Chronic hepatitis B or C infections
- A family history of liver cancer
There are several techniques that clinicians use to help detect liver cancers and other abnormalities early, including5,6:
- Ultrasound
- Blood tests for a protein called alpha-fetoprotein
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Computed tomography (CT) imaging
The Role of MRI and CT in Early Detection
How MRI detects liver abnormalities
MRI provides excellent imaging for soft tissues and organs and can help to assess abnormalities in the liver. Benefits of MRI include7:
- Excellent soft tissue contrast, which allows radiologists to distinguish between normal liver tissue, benign (non-cancerous) lesions, and malignant tumours
- Superior sensitivity for detecting small tumours and early-stage lesions, which can be easily missed with other imaging methods
- Provides detailed images in multiple planes for more comprehensive assessments without repositioning the patient
- Specialised imaging modes can improve tumour characterisation and staging
- MRI is highly effective for evaluating bile ducts, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and vascular involvement in tumours, making it a useful tool for assessing general liver health
Ezra’s MRI can screen for cancer in the liver and other organs simultaneously.
When CT scans are used
CT scans are beneficial for assessing liver tumours in certain circumstances7:
- They can assess tumour invasion and detect metastases in nearby lymph nodes and other organs, helping with tumour grading
- They have sufficient sensitivity to accurately detect liver lesions and abnormalities
- They can provide faster results than other imaging tests
MRI and CT scans are both valuable for assessing liver health and tumours, though there are key differences which can influence when each is most appropriate7.
- Radiation - MRIs do not use radiation, while CT scans do
- Detail - MRIs provide greater detail than CTs, especially for soft tissue contrast
- Speed - MRIs take longer to perform than CT scans
AI-enhanced imaging improves accuracy
Advances in AI are helping to improve the accuracy of medical imaging strategies8. AI tools have already been shown to outperform radiologists in some instances9.
Ezra uses FDA-cleared AI to help radiologists spot abnormalities faster and more accurately, helping to support earlier detection of many cancer types, including liver cancer. This approach improves early-stage detection when subtle signs may be missed by the human eye.
Benefits of Early Detection on Treatment Options and Quality of Life
Early detection of cancer comes with a variety of benefits beyond improved survival, which many people might overlook.
Broader treatment options available
When liver cancer is found early, there are generally more treatment options available to the medical team. This can mean that treatments like ablation and resection are available, which can be curative in certain cases.
Ablation involves heat treatment to kill cancer cells in the liver, while resection involves removing part of the liver. Transplant can also be an option in early stages, since the cancer has not spread beyond the liver10.
Reduced need for aggressive treatments
Catching liver cancer early means it is still confined to the liver, often limited to one area, and has not spread to nearby tissues. This allows for less extensive surgery, removing only small sections of the liver11.
Early detection can prevent the need for aggressive chemotherapy, reducing side effects and improving quality of life12.
Emotional and psychological benefits
Early detection eases the emotional burden on patients and families, with one study showing lower PTSD rates in those diagnosed earlier13.
Early diagnosis can relieve the anxiety linked to uncertainty or emergency diagnoses, improving quality of life and making treatment journeys more manageable12.
Summary
Early detection is transforming liver cancer care by catching the disease before symptoms appear, when treatments are most effective. MRI and CT imaging play a central role, offering detailed insights that help identify cancer at earlier, more treatable stages. For patients, this generally means better survival rates, broader treatment options, and improved quality of life. Proactive screening is especially important for those at higher risk, including people with cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis. By embracing advanced imaging and screening strategies, we can reduce the impact of liver cancer and give patients the best chance at long-term health.
If you want to be proactive about your health, why not book an Ezra MRI Scan with Spine? Our annual scan catches potential cancer earlier by leveraging AI through the screening process, making it more efficient, affordable, and faster.
