About The Liver

Primary liver cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide and is among the most challenging cancers to treat. The Nebraska Medical Center is one of the leading regional centers for the treatment of liver cancer and is home to the only liver transplant program in the area. Patients who come to The Nebraska Medical Center have access to some of the most advanced treatment options available for the treatment of liver cancer, some of which are not offered anywhere else in the area. Backing these cutting edge treatments is a very experienced staff of surgeons, hepatologists, oncologists, radiologists and clinical support staff. Many of these clinicians have been with the program since the inception of the liver transplant program more than 20 years ago.

Patients are often sent to The Nebraska Medical Center because we can provide them options that don’t exist anywhere in the area. Resection and liver transplantation, when possible, provide the most favorable outcomes for primary liver cancer patients. The Nebraska Medical Center has one of the most active and prominent liver transplant centers in the world. Established in 1985, the liver transplant program consistently achieves better outcomes than the national average and performs more successful high-risk liver transplants than almost any other program in the nation. Laparoscopic liver resection, a minimally invasive technique to remove diseased parts of the liver, is another option available that is less demanding on the patient. The Nebraska Medical Center also offers several interventional radiology procedures, which can help prepare patients for transplantation or provide palliative treatment when other options have been exhausted. These include chemoembolization, radiofrequency ablation and radioembolization.

The liver

The liver is located in the upper right portion of your abdomen beneath your diaphragm and above your stomach. It is the largest internal organ in your body, weighing about three to four pounds. Your liver is divided into two sections called lobes. Each lobe is made up of thousands of smaller lobes called lobules, which are connected to a network of ducts. The lobules are responsible for performing hundreds of tasks vital to your health and well-being.

Your liver is a sort of gatekeeper from your small intestine to your bloodstream. It processes most of the nutrients absorbed from your small intestines and regulates how much sugar or gluocose, protein and fat enter your bloodstream. The liver produces blood-clotting substances and important proteins. It secretes bile which helps in the digestion of food, and performs critical detoxifying functions by removing drugs, alcohol and other harmful substances from your bloodstream. Blood enters the liver through two vascular systems called the hepatic artery and portal vein.

The liver also has an extraordinary ability to regenerate or heal itself by replacing or repairing injured tissue. In addition, healthy cells will replace the function of damaged cells, either indefinitely or until the damage has been repaired. Despite the liver's many capabilities, it is still at risk for a number of diseases that can cause serious or irreversible damage including primary liver cancer.