Multidiscliplinary Care
Our multi-specialty Liver Tumor Group and approach ensures that you receive, as quickly as possible:
- The most appropriate care plan, determined by a team of leading clinicians
- The most advanced care plan, drawing on BIDMC’s vast clinical resources, state-of-the-art technology and clinical trial opportunities, and
- The least invasive, yet most comprehensive, care plan possible to maximize length of life and quality of life, including liver transplantation in some cases
- Input about your particular diagnosis and treatment from all relevant specialties at our weekly meetings
Typically, care and treatment for liver cancer falls into four broad areas:
- Diagnosis: We use advanced tools such as rapid multidetector CT angiography (an xray of blood vessels) and MR angiography for depicting the blood vessels supplying the liver, and MRCP (magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography), a non-invasive method for imaging the bile ducts and pancreas.
- Staging: Our world-class doctors evaluate all radiologic imaging and pathology from tissue biopsy, blood work and physical examinations to determine the type and location of the cancer, if the cancer has spread and if so, to what other areas of the body, and to help guide treatment planning.
- Treatment: Your treatment plan may include one or more of the following: surgery to resect (remove) the tumor, liver transplantation, transarterial chemoembolization or TACE: targeted chemotherapy to starve and shrink a tumor by blocking its blood supply; radiofrequency ablation (using heat and radio waves to destroy tumor cells); radiation (focused stereotactic body radiotherapy (CyberKnife) or external beam radiation); systemic chemotherapy; clinical trials; and, in the case of advanced cancer, palliative care to provide comfort measures.
- Follow-up: You will have regular follow-up care with your team of specialists at BIDMC and with your primary care and/or referring doctors, to monitor progress after your initial treatment or to order more therapy, rehabilitation and/or counseling if needed.
Multidisciplinary care, through our Liver Tumor Group, Liver Tumor Center and Transplant Institute, helps us tailor a treatment plan to your unique symptoms and needs, and strengthens the relationship between you and your team of specialists. Click here to view the caremap PDF.
