About a scan

[Sexy1971]

Hi I was just wondering if anyone knows what a US surveillance liver hepatocellular ca is please as I have got one next month and a bit frightened as I don't know what it's for as never had one before thanks Mary

[AyrshireK]

Hi Mary, as you have a diagnosis of cirrhosis then you should receive a 6 monthly ultrasound scan for routine screening of your liver. Because you have cirrhosis you have a slightly increased chance of developing liver cancer a.k.a. HCC ( Hepatocelluar Carcinoma ) . This scan together with a blood test called Alpha -fetoprotein are just there to check your liver. By doing these scans so regularly they will pick up any changes in a timescale that would allow follow up and intervention/treatment it anything did show up.

The scan also checks your kidneys, spleen, portal veinous flow and other abdominal organs and for presence of ascites.

Hope that answers your question without scaring you half to death, this is absolutely routine and the NICE guidelines stipulate that this screening is the minimum level of monitoring a cirrhosis patient should receive.

Katie

[Hidden]

Hello,

Katie is absolutely correct. I would just add that it is important you have an appointment to get the result of your scan - either by phone or face to face. If you haven't heard anything after a couple of weeks it is always worth chasing it up. No point having a scan if you then have to wait weeks to get the result....

regards

[Sexy1971 in reply to Hidden]

Hi trust5I have my appointment for the scan on the 3rd of next month but I was just wondering what it meant as I have never had one before so wasn't sure what it was for and Katie kindly explained it to me thanks Mary

[Roy1955 in reply to Sexy1971]

It's the jelly on you belly type scan.Nothing to worry about.