Which is listed as a complication of cancer involving the liver?

Which is listed as a complication of cancer involving the liver?

• A. Graft rejection
• B. Peritonitis
• C. Fistulas
• D. Adrenal insufficiency

Answer: (A)

When cancer involves the liver, the problems you watch for are related to liver function and the portal system, not immune reactions to a transplanted organ. Graft rejection is a reaction that occurs after a liver transplant, when the recipient’s immune system attacks the donor liver. That process is not caused by cancer in the liver, so it isn’t a complication of hepatic cancer. The other options describe issues that can occur with cancer in general but aren’t classic liver-specific complications: peritonitis is an infection of the peritoneum; fistulas can form with tumor invasion into nearby structures; adrenal insufficiency can occur if cancer involves the adrenal glands. In liver involvement, the typical concerns are jaundice, ascites, hepatomegaly, abnormal liver tests, coagulopathy, and potential hepatic failure.

When cancer involves the liver, the problems you watch for are related to liver function and the portal system, not immune reactions to a transplanted organ. Graft rejection is a reaction that occurs after a liver transplant, when the recipient’s immune system attacks the donor liver. That process is not caused by cancer in the liver, so it isn’t a complication of hepatic cancer.

The other options describe issues that can occur with cancer in general but aren’t classic liver-specific complications: peritonitis is an infection of the peritoneum; fistulas can form with tumor invasion into nearby structures; adrenal insufficiency can occur if cancer involves the adrenal glands. In liver involvement, the typical concerns are jaundice, ascites, hepatomegaly, abnormal liver tests, coagulopathy, and potential hepatic failure.