To clarify which symptoms of liver cancer are dangerous, we must identify which comorbidities of liver cancer are fatal and can lead to worsening of the patient’s condition or even death in a short period of time. Fatal comorbidities of liver cancer include ruptured hepatocellular hemorrhage, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy, liver failure, and hepatorenal syndrome.
Ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma bleeding
It is a common and serious comorbidity of hepatocellular carcinoma, and the incidence can reach 10% to 20%. The most common symptoms are: progressive blood pressure drop, abdominal pain, and even shock if blood flows into the abdominal cavity from ruptured liver cancer. If the blood flows into the chest cavity, the symptoms will be: progressive blood pressure drop, dyspnea, hemorrhagic shock, chest pain, and other symptoms.
Upper gastrointestinal bleeding
It is also a common and serious comorbidity of liver cancer.
- Esophagogastric fundic variceal bleeding: The cause is bleeding from the esophagogastric fundic variceal vein due to portal hypertension. The main symptoms are: vomiting of blood, black stool (dark red blood), progressive drop in blood pressure, and hemorrhagic shock.
- Diffuse erosion of the gastric mucosa: Portal hypertension can also lead to stasis of the gastrointestinal tract resulting in diffuse erosion of the gastric mucosa with the same symptoms as fundic esophageal variceal bleeding but with slightly less blood.
- Disorders of coagulation mechanisms: Insufficient synthesis of coagulation factors because of liver failure and hypersplenism, resulting in thrombocytopenia, among other causes. The main symptoms manifest as bleeding from various organs, and in addition to upper gastrointestinal bleeding, there will be multiple petechiae of petechiae on the skin all over the body, etc.
Hepatic encephalopathy
Occurring in patients with end-stage hepatocellular carcinoma, common comorbidities include abnormal behaviors and, in severe cases, hepatic coma.
Hepatic failure
The main symptoms are generalized weakness, petechiae in the skin due to coagulation disorders, bleeding in all systems, and impaired consciousness in those with severe jaundice.
Hepatorenal syndrome
The main symptoms are small and large amounts of ascites and edema, mainly due to renal dysfunction triggered by liver failure.
The above are symptoms that lead to severe comorbidities and comorbidities of liver cancer that are fatal and can lead to exacerbation or even death in a short period of time.