Benign (noncancerous) liver tumors are common.
They do not spread to other areas of the body and they usually do not pose a serious health risk. In fact, in most cases, benign liver tumors are not diagnosed because they cause no symptoms. When they are detected, it's usually because the person has had medical imaging tests, such as an ultrasound, CT test or MRI, for another condition.
The three most common types of benign liver tumors are hemangiomas, focal nodular hyperplasias, and hepatocellular adenomas. Rarely do any of these conditions require treatment.
Hemangiomas, the most common form of benign liver tumors, are masses of abnormal blood vessels. Up to 5 percent of adults in the United States may have small hemangiomas in their liver. Women are more likely than men to develop them. Usually these benign tumors produce no symptoms and do not need to be treated. When symptoms do occur, it is often caused by the size of the tumor and/ or proximity to other organs. In these instances, surgical intervention may be indicated.
Focal Nodular Hyperplasias or FNH, are the second most common form of benign liver tumors. These tumors do not cause symptoms or require treatment. They usually occur in women between the ages of 20 and 30. Like other forms of benign liver tumors, they are generally discovered during imaging tests for other conditions. In very rare cases, if they are large or causing pain, surgical removal may be recommended.
Hepatocellualar Adenomas are less common benign liver tumors. They occur most often in women of childbearing age and have been linked to oral contraceptive use, where higher doses of estrogen were used. Since these tumors generally do not cause symptoms, most are never detected and they rarely cause problems. Hepatocellular adenomas may grow in women who take hormone pills, so doctors will often advise discontinuing birth control pills or hormones to prevent further growth. The goal of this treatment is to shrink the tumor, but if this does not occur, surgery may be indicated.
Condition
Emory Healthcare’s experienced Internal Medicine & Primary Care physician team provides the full continuum of patient care for the various medical conditions you may experience across all organ systems and diagnoses.
We provide routine checkups, treat common illnesses and chronic diseases, and offer counseling about nutrition, exercise and other methods to maintain a healthy lifestyle and prevent disease. In addition, we work with you to develop a preventive care plan based on your unique risks and healthcare needs. Finally, we will coordinate care with other Emory Healthcare specialists, should more advanced evaluation or treatment be required.
Schedule your wellness visit so that we may help you review your personal and family health history, and then create a plan for your future optimal health.
Liver Treatments & Services
When the liver stops functioning properly, it cannot perform its critical metabolic and detoxifying roles for the body. For some liver diseases and disorders surgery may be the appropriate treatment. Surgical and nonsurgical treatment options are available through Emory’s liver program and include: liver resection, liver transplant, ERCP, radiofrequency ablation, and radiation oncology. Emory’s liver program physicians and specialists are experienced in the medical management of all diseases of the liver. To learn more about each of the treatments available at Emory, please use the links below:
Embolization
In embolization, small particles called microspheres are injected into the hepatic artery to stop the flow of blood to the tumor. Since a tumor needs oxygen and nutrients in order to grow, embolization "starves" the tumor and arrests its growth. Embolization is a good option for patients whose tumors are inoperable. It is also effective in treating larger (greater than 2 inches) tumors. During the procedure, a doctor places a catheter into an artery in the thigh and threads it up into the hepatic artery. Once the catheter arrives at the liver, the doctor injects microspheres to block the artery.
Sometimes, embolization is used to administer chemotherapy or radiation. In chemoembolization, the doctor coats the microspheres with chemotherapy drugs before injecting them into the catheter. This is a fast and effective means of administering chemotherapy, because it is so targeted and concentrated. In radioembolization, the doctor injects radioactive beads or oils into the catheter so that the radiation is released directly into the tumor without damaging healthy tissue.
Patient Benefits
Procedure is usually done on an outpatient basis
Procedure is minimally invasive, meaning less pain and a shorter recovery time
Patient Risks
Damage to tissue near the blocked artery
Infection
Bleeding
Bruising at the site of the catheter insertion
Flu-like symptoms known as "post-embolization syndrome" that appear several days after the procedure and usually last about five days
ERCP
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a type of X-ray procedure used to diagnose and treat bile duct problems, including gallstones, biliary strictures, biliary leaks, and tumors. The procedure is done under light sedation. When conducting ERCP, the doctor inserts an endoscope (a thin, flexible tube with a light at the end) down the patient's throat and through the stomach until it reaches the biliary tree. Then dye is injected into the bile ducts so that they can be seen on X-ray. If a problem is identified, the doctor can then insert surgical instruments into the endoscope to correct it. Biopsies can also be performed this way.
Patient Benefits
Procedure is usually done on an outpatient basis
Procedure is minimally invasive, meaning less pain and a shorter recovery time
Patient Risks
Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
Infection
Bleeding
Perforation of the duodenum
Liver Transplant Surgery
When a compatible liver donor is found, you will be notified by a member of the liver transplant team. At that time, you will be given instructions about coming to the hospital for your transplant. We advise you not to bring any valuables with you, such as jewelry, money, or expensive clothing. We will tell you that we have a potential donor and then ask how you have been feeling physically. If you have a fever, vomiting or diarrhea, we may not be able to do the transplant. The most important thing you can do while waiting for a transplant is to seek treatment quickly if you become ill, so that you will be ready at any time should a donor liver become available. The first call you get does not always mean the transplant will occur. We will tell you that we have a potential donor. The surgeon examines each donor organ and may find that the organ is not strong and healthy. If the donor organ is not functioning well, we will not do the transplant. This does not happen often, but it is a possibility.
Leaving for the Hospital
You need to go directly to Emory as soon as you have finished talking with the coordinator. If you have difficulty driving to the hospital, please call the coordinator and we will try to help you get there safely. We would not want you to lose a chance for a new liver because your car broke down. If you have arranged to fly, you will need to contact the air ambulance service immediately for departure and arrival times and then tell your coordinator. We can then anticipate when you will arrive at Emory.
Arriving at the Hospital
When you arrive at Emory University Hospital, please drive to the valet entrance on Clifton Road, then go directly to Admissions located on the second (2nd) floor of the hospital. Sign in under the surgeon’s name. The admissions personnel will direct you to your room where you will be prepared for surgery. This time will be very hectic. Several final procedures such as blood tests, chest X- ray and an EKG may need to be done. A transplant surgeon and an anesthesiologist will also talk with you, and you must sign a Consent for Surgical Operation.
Liver Transplant Surgery
On the same day or the next morning, you will be taken to the operating room. There, the anesthesiologist will insert intravenous needles for administration of medications and blood and for taking blood samples. Medications will be given to make you fall asleep. A catheter will be inserted into your bladder and will drain your urine, and a tube that goes into your lungs will be attached to a respirator to breathe for you during surgery and for a short period of time afterwards. The transplant surgeons will make an incision in your abdomen to remove your liver and replace it with your new one. Small tubes known as Jackson Pratt (JP) drains will come out of your incision to drain fluid from around your new liver. They will remain in place until the drainage stops. A nasogastric (NG) tube will be placed through your nose and into your stomach to keep it from filling with air until normal bowel functions return. Your family will be asked to wait for you in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) waiting area. We will make every effort to keep them informed of your progress. If your family chooses to wait somewhere other than the ICU waiting area, they should inform the ICU nursing staff of their location. The surgery usually lasts from six to eight hours, but may take considerably longer in some patients. When the surgery is over, one of the surgeons will speak with your family. You will be taken directly to the ICU. Your family will be able to visit you for the first time about one hour after your arrival in the ICU. Each time your family members visit, they first will be asked to wash their hands at the sink inside your room. This is required of all visitors at all times. Hand washing is also required of all members of the liver transplant team. As you begin to recuperate and feel stronger, the tubes and catheters will be removed.
Post-Transplant
When you awaken in the ICU, the sights and sounds around you may be unfamiliar. Your recovery will be monitored and managed by highly skilled critical care nurses.
The tube in your lungs will remain in place to help you breathe deeply and prevent pneumonia until the anesthesia is completely out of your system. Because this tube passes through your vocal cords, you will not be able to talk while it is in, which will make communicating a challenge. The nurse will ask you “yes” and “no” questions and help you write messages on a notepad. When the tube is removed, you will be asked to do exercises, such as coughing and deep breathing, to keep your lungs clear.
You will have “squeezing devices” or sequential compression devices on your legs to promote the circulation of blood in your legs while you are on bed rest. This helps to prevent the formation of blood clots in your legs.
You will probably look different to your family: you will be pale, possibly swollen and will feel cool to their touch. This will improve after just a
few hours in the intensive care unit. You will also still be sleepy and may not remember the first time your family visits.
A typical stay in the ICU is one to four days. Several times each day, various members of the transplant team will make rounds to monitor your progress. Please do not be alarmed at all of the attention you will be getting. This is normal and necessary for a safe recovery.
You will then be transferred to the surgical floor where our nurses and physical therapists will help you regain your strength, teach you how to care for yourself when you go home, and prepare you for discharge from the hospital. If all goes well, you can expect to spend five to seven days on the surgical floor before your discharge. During your recovery you will have both “good” and “not-so-good” days, but over time, you should get stronger and begin noticing differences in your body and abilities. Keep in mind that no two liver transplant patients recover at the same pace. You are an individual and comparing your progress with that of another transplant patient may only confuse and frustrate you. As you move closer to the time you will leave the hospital, your activity level will be increased. You will be encouraged to walk daily. Eventually, you will be able to venture outside the hospital. You will also be expected to know how and when to take your medications.
Deep Breathing and Coughing
Deep breathing and coughing will help expand your lungs and remove lung secretions that have settled during your surgery. A respiratory therapist will show you how to use an incentive spirometer, a device that will help you take deep breaths. It is a good idea to take the incentive spirometer home with you to use the first four to six weeks after surgery.
Coughing may be painful, since you will have an incision. The nurse will teach you how to splint (decrease the pain by holding a pillow or your hands over your incision). Ask the nurse for pain medicine so you can breathe deeply and cough more easily and effectively.
Exercise and Activity
You should begin to increase your physical activity soon after your surgery. A physical therapist will be available to you. Once you are feeling better, generally the third or fourth day after surgery, you should begin walking in your room and the hallway. Each day increase the time and distance you walk.
Medical Treatments
Medical treatment of liver conditions is overseen by a hepatologist, a doctor who specializes in diseases of the liver. A hepatologist may be involved in diagnosing and treating viral hepatitis, liver cancer, liver failure, cirrhosis, hemochromatosis, and all other conditions associated with the liver and bile ducts.
Emory hepatologists conduct diagnostic tests, prescribe medication, recommend surgical options when appropriate, and conduct follow-up care to ensure patients with liver problems stay as healthy as possible.
Radiation Oncology
Radiation oncology is a form of cancer treatment that targets energy waves at cancer cells to damage or destroy them. It can also be helpful in relieving pain. Radiation is not always used in treating liver cancer, because healthy liver tissue is highly susceptible to radiation damage. Moreover, metastatic liver tumors are often resistant to radiation. When radiation therapy is used on liver tumors, it's usually in conjunction with surgery. Radiation therapy is a more effective and less risky option for cancers of the bile duct or gallbladder.
There are two types of radiation therapy: external and internal. External radiation involves pointing a machine called a linear accelerator at a specific area of the body to deliver radiation to the tumor. Patients will usually receive external radiation treatments five days a week for several weeks. In internal radiation, also called brachytherapy, radioactive materials are delivered directly into the tumor.
Emory is also performing a novel radiation treatment called stereotactic body radiation. This treatment used to be restricted to brain tumors, because it required screwing a rigid frame in place around the skull. But because of recent technological advances, Emory doctors are now able to use this highly effective targeted therapy on tumors of the liver.
Patient Benefits
Performed on an outpatient basis
Patients can continue with most of their usual activities during treatment
The procedure itself is painless
Patient Risks
Damage to healthy liver tissue
Fatigue
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea
Radiofrequency Ablation
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive treatment that involves using imaging (ultrasound, CT or MRI) to guide a needle electrode into a tumor. An electrical current is then passed through the electrode, heating and killing the cancer cells. RFA is often used in patients for whom surgical resection is not an option. Radiofrequency ablation works best on tumors that are less than 1.5 inches in diameter and is often used along with chemotherapy and radiation to shrink the tumor.
Patient Benefits
Procedure is usually done on an outpatient basis
Procedure is minimally invasive, meaning less pain and a shorter recovery time
Patient Risks
Shoulder pain after procedure
Gallbladder inflammation
Flu-like symptoms known as "post-ablation syndrome" that appear several days after the procedure and usually last about five days
Damage to surrounding tissues that may require surgical correction
Infection
Bleeding
They do not spread to other areas of the body and they usually do not pose a serious health risk. In fact, in most cases, benign liver tumors are not diagnosed because they cause no symptoms. When they are detected, it's usually because the person has had medical imaging tests, such as an ultrasound, CT test or MRI, for another condition.
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The three most common types of benign liver tumors are hemangiomas, focal nodular hyperplasias, and hepatocellular adenomas. Rarely do any of these conditions require treatment.
Hemangiomas, the most common form of benign liver tumors, are masses of abnormal blood vessels. Up to 5 percent of adults in the United States may have small hemangiomas in their liver. Women are more likely than men to develop them. Usually these benign tumors produce no symptoms and do not need to be treated. When symptoms do occur, it is often caused by the size of the tumor and/ or proximity to other organs. In these instances, surgical intervention may be indicated.
Focal Nodular Hyperplasias or FNH, are the second most common form of benign liver tumors. These tumors do not cause symptoms or require treatment. They usually occur in women between the ages of 20 and 30. Like other forms of benign liver tumors, they are generally discovered during imaging tests for other conditions. In very rare cases, if they are large or causing pain, surgical removal may be recommended.
Hepatocellualar Adenomas are less common benign liver tumors. They occur most often in women of childbearing age and have been linked to oral contraceptive use, where higher doses of estrogen were used. Since these tumors generally do not cause symptoms, most are never detected and they rarely cause problems. Hepatocellular adenomas may grow in women who take hormone pills, so doctors will often advise discontinuing birth control pills or hormones to prevent further growth. The goal of this treatment is to shrink the tumor, but if this does not occur, surgery may be indicated.
Condition
Emory Healthcare’s experienced Internal Medicine & Primary Care physician team provides the full continuum of patient care for the various medical conditions you may experience across all organ systems and diagnoses.
We provide routine checkups, treat common illnesses and chronic diseases, and offer counseling about nutrition, exercise and other methods to maintain a healthy lifestyle and prevent disease. In addition, we work with you to develop a preventive care plan based on your unique risks and healthcare needs. Finally, we will coordinate care with other Emory Healthcare specialists, should more advanced evaluation or treatment be required.
Schedule your wellness visit so that we may help you review your personal and family health history, and then create a plan for your future optimal health.
Liver Treatments & Services
When the liver stops functioning properly, it cannot perform its critical metabolic and detoxifying roles for the body. For some liver diseases and disorders surgery may be the appropriate treatment. Surgical and nonsurgical treatment options are available through Emory’s liver program and include: liver resection, liver transplant, ERCP, radiofrequency ablation, and radiation oncology. Emory’s liver program physicians and specialists are experienced in the medical management of all diseases of the liver. To learn more about each of the treatments available at Emory, please use the links below:
Embolization
In embolization, small particles called microspheres are injected into the hepatic artery to stop the flow of blood to the tumor. Since a tumor needs oxygen and nutrients in order to grow, embolization "starves" the tumor and arrests its growth. Embolization is a good option for patients whose tumors are inoperable. It is also effective in treating larger (greater than 2 inches) tumors. During the procedure, a doctor places a catheter into an artery in the thigh and threads it up into the hepatic artery. Once the catheter arrives at the liver, the doctor injects microspheres to block the artery.
Sometimes, embolization is used to administer chemotherapy or radiation. In chemoembolization, the doctor coats the microspheres with chemotherapy drugs before injecting them into the catheter. This is a fast and effective means of administering chemotherapy, because it is so targeted and concentrated. In radioembolization, the doctor injects radioactive beads or oils into the catheter so that the radiation is released directly into the tumor without damaging healthy tissue.
Patient Benefits
Procedure is usually done on an outpatient basis
Procedure is minimally invasive, meaning less pain and a shorter recovery time
Patient Risks
Damage to tissue near the blocked artery
Infection
Bleeding
Bruising at the site of the catheter insertion
Flu-like symptoms known as "post-embolization syndrome" that appear several days after the procedure and usually last about five days
ERCP
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a type of X-ray procedure used to diagnose and treat bile duct problems, including gallstones, biliary strictures, biliary leaks, and tumors. The procedure is done under light sedation. When conducting ERCP, the doctor inserts an endoscope (a thin, flexible tube with a light at the end) down the patient's throat and through the stomach until it reaches the biliary tree. Then dye is injected into the bile ducts so that they can be seen on X-ray. If a problem is identified, the doctor can then insert surgical instruments into the endoscope to correct it. Biopsies can also be performed this way.
Patient Benefits
Procedure is usually done on an outpatient basis
Procedure is minimally invasive, meaning less pain and a shorter recovery time
Patient Risks
Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
Infection
Bleeding
Perforation of the duodenum
Liver Transplant Surgery
When a compatible liver donor is found, you will be notified by a member of the liver transplant team. At that time, you will be given instructions about coming to the hospital for your transplant. We advise you not to bring any valuables with you, such as jewelry, money, or expensive clothing. We will tell you that we have a potential donor and then ask how you have been feeling physically. If you have a fever, vomiting or diarrhea, we may not be able to do the transplant. The most important thing you can do while waiting for a transplant is to seek treatment quickly if you become ill, so that you will be ready at any time should a donor liver become available. The first call you get does not always mean the transplant will occur. We will tell you that we have a potential donor. The surgeon examines each donor organ and may find that the organ is not strong and healthy. If the donor organ is not functioning well, we will not do the transplant. This does not happen often, but it is a possibility.
Leaving for the Hospital
You need to go directly to Emory as soon as you have finished talking with the coordinator. If you have difficulty driving to the hospital, please call the coordinator and we will try to help you get there safely. We would not want you to lose a chance for a new liver because your car broke down. If you have arranged to fly, you will need to contact the air ambulance service immediately for departure and arrival times and then tell your coordinator. We can then anticipate when you will arrive at Emory.
Arriving at the Hospital
When you arrive at Emory University Hospital, please drive to the valet entrance on Clifton Road, then go directly to Admissions located on the second (2nd) floor of the hospital. Sign in under the surgeon’s name. The admissions personnel will direct you to your room where you will be prepared for surgery. This time will be very hectic. Several final procedures such as blood tests, chest X- ray and an EKG may need to be done. A transplant surgeon and an anesthesiologist will also talk with you, and you must sign a Consent for Surgical Operation.
Liver Transplant Surgery
On the same day or the next morning, you will be taken to the operating room. There, the anesthesiologist will insert intravenous needles for administration of medications and blood and for taking blood samples. Medications will be given to make you fall asleep. A catheter will be inserted into your bladder and will drain your urine, and a tube that goes into your lungs will be attached to a respirator to breathe for you during surgery and for a short period of time afterwards. The transplant surgeons will make an incision in your abdomen to remove your liver and replace it with your new one. Small tubes known as Jackson Pratt (JP) drains will come out of your incision to drain fluid from around your new liver. They will remain in place until the drainage stops. A nasogastric (NG) tube will be placed through your nose and into your stomach to keep it from filling with air until normal bowel functions return. Your family will be asked to wait for you in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) waiting area. We will make every effort to keep them informed of your progress. If your family chooses to wait somewhere other than the ICU waiting area, they should inform the ICU nursing staff of their location. The surgery usually lasts from six to eight hours, but may take considerably longer in some patients. When the surgery is over, one of the surgeons will speak with your family. You will be taken directly to the ICU. Your family will be able to visit you for the first time about one hour after your arrival in the ICU. Each time your family members visit, they first will be asked to wash their hands at the sink inside your room. This is required of all visitors at all times. Hand washing is also required of all members of the liver transplant team. As you begin to recuperate and feel stronger, the tubes and catheters will be removed.
Post-Transplant
When you awaken in the ICU, the sights and sounds around you may be unfamiliar. Your recovery will be monitored and managed by highly skilled critical care nurses.
The tube in your lungs will remain in place to help you breathe deeply and prevent pneumonia until the anesthesia is completely out of your system. Because this tube passes through your vocal cords, you will not be able to talk while it is in, which will make communicating a challenge. The nurse will ask you “yes” and “no” questions and help you write messages on a notepad. When the tube is removed, you will be asked to do exercises, such as coughing and deep breathing, to keep your lungs clear.
You will have “squeezing devices” or sequential compression devices on your legs to promote the circulation of blood in your legs while you are on bed rest. This helps to prevent the formation of blood clots in your legs.
You will probably look different to your family: you will be pale, possibly swollen and will feel cool to their touch. This will improve after just a
few hours in the intensive care unit. You will also still be sleepy and may not remember the first time your family visits.
A typical stay in the ICU is one to four days. Several times each day, various members of the transplant team will make rounds to monitor your progress. Please do not be alarmed at all of the attention you will be getting. This is normal and necessary for a safe recovery.
You will then be transferred to the surgical floor where our nurses and physical therapists will help you regain your strength, teach you how to care for yourself when you go home, and prepare you for discharge from the hospital. If all goes well, you can expect to spend five to seven days on the surgical floor before your discharge. During your recovery you will have both “good” and “not-so-good” days, but over time, you should get stronger and begin noticing differences in your body and abilities. Keep in mind that no two liver transplant patients recover at the same pace. You are an individual and comparing your progress with that of another transplant patient may only confuse and frustrate you. As you move closer to the time you will leave the hospital, your activity level will be increased. You will be encouraged to walk daily. Eventually, you will be able to venture outside the hospital. You will also be expected to know how and when to take your medications.
Deep Breathing and Coughing
Deep breathing and coughing will help expand your lungs and remove lung secretions that have settled during your surgery. A respiratory therapist will show you how to use an incentive spirometer, a device that will help you take deep breaths. It is a good idea to take the incentive spirometer home with you to use the first four to six weeks after surgery.
Coughing may be painful, since you will have an incision. The nurse will teach you how to splint (decrease the pain by holding a pillow or your hands over your incision). Ask the nurse for pain medicine so you can breathe deeply and cough more easily and effectively.
Exercise and Activity
You should begin to increase your physical activity soon after your surgery. A physical therapist will be available to you. Once you are feeling better, generally the third or fourth day after surgery, you should begin walking in your room and the hallway. Each day increase the time and distance you walk.
Medical Treatments
Medical treatment of liver conditions is overseen by a hepatologist, a doctor who specializes in diseases of the liver. A hepatologist may be involved in diagnosing and treating viral hepatitis, liver cancer, liver failure, cirrhosis, hemochromatosis, and all other conditions associated with the liver and bile ducts.
Emory hepatologists conduct diagnostic tests, prescribe medication, recommend surgical options when appropriate, and conduct follow-up care to ensure patients with liver problems stay as healthy as possible.
Radiation Oncology
Radiation oncology is a form of cancer treatment that targets energy waves at cancer cells to damage or destroy them. It can also be helpful in relieving pain. Radiation is not always used in treating liver cancer, because healthy liver tissue is highly susceptible to radiation damage. Moreover, metastatic liver tumors are often resistant to radiation. When radiation therapy is used on liver tumors, it's usually in conjunction with surgery. Radiation therapy is a more effective and less risky option for cancers of the bile duct or gallbladder.
There are two types of radiation therapy: external and internal. External radiation involves pointing a machine called a linear accelerator at a specific area of the body to deliver radiation to the tumor. Patients will usually receive external radiation treatments five days a week for several weeks. In internal radiation, also called brachytherapy, radioactive materials are delivered directly into the tumor.
Emory is also performing a novel radiation treatment called stereotactic body radiation. This treatment used to be restricted to brain tumors, because it required screwing a rigid frame in place around the skull. But because of recent technological advances, Emory doctors are now able to use this highly effective targeted therapy on tumors of the liver.
Patient Benefits
Performed on an outpatient basis
Patients can continue with most of their usual activities during treatment
The procedure itself is painless
Patient Risks
Damage to healthy liver tissue
Fatigue
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea
Radiofrequency Ablation
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive treatment that involves using imaging (ultrasound, CT or MRI) to guide a needle electrode into a tumor. An electrical current is then passed through the electrode, heating and killing the cancer cells. RFA is often used in patients for whom surgical resection is not an option. Radiofrequency ablation works best on tumors that are less than 1.5 inches in diameter and is often used along with chemotherapy and radiation to shrink the tumor.
Patient Benefits
Procedure is usually done on an outpatient basis
Procedure is minimally invasive, meaning less pain and a shorter recovery time
Patient Risks
Shoulder pain after procedure
Gallbladder inflammation
Flu-like symptoms known as "post-ablation syndrome" that appear several days after the procedure and usually last about five days
Damage to surrounding tissues that may require surgical correction
Infection
Bleeding
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