| liver cancer | <oncology, tumour> A tumour of the liver. most cancer involving the liver is spread (metastatic) from other areas (colon, breast or lung). See: hepatoma. (27 Sep 1997) |
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| liver cell | Usually implies hepatocytes, even though other cell types are found in the liver Kupffer cells for example). Hepatocytes are relatively unspecialised epithelial cells and are the biochemist's typical animal cell. (18 Nov 1997) |
| liver cell carcinoma | <tumour> A carcinoma derived from parenchymal cells of the liver. Synonym: hepatocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, liver cell carcinoma. (05 Mar 2000) |
| liver circulation | The circulation of blood through the vessels of the liver. (12 Dec 1998) |
| liver cirrhosis | Liver disease in which the normal microcirculation, the gross vascular anatomy, and the hepatic architecture have been variably destroyed and altered with fibrous septa surrounding regenerated or regenerating parenchymal nodules. (12 Dec 1998) |
| liver cirrhosis, alcoholic | Liver cirrhosis in alcoholics. (12 Dec 1998) |
| liver cirrhosis, biliary | Liver cirrhosis in which there is interference with intrahepatic bile flow. It includes primary biliary cirrhosis, an intrahepatic disturbance of bile secretion affecting predominantly middle-aged women and with segmental destruction and, later, absence of septal bile ducts (cirrhosis is the end stage); and secondary biliary cirrhosis, which is produced by prolonged mechanical obstruction of large intrahepatic or extrahepatic bile ducts. (12 Dec 1998) |
| liver cyst | <radiology> Simple cyst, polycystic liver disease (50% most likely to be renal cysts), abscess (pyogenic, amebic, hydatid), traumatic haematoma, Caroli disease, cystic hepatoblastoma, cystadenoma / cystadenocarcinoma, haemangioendothelioma, cystic metastasis (uncommon): sarcoma, melanoma, ovarian cystadenocarcinoma (12 Dec 1998) |
| liver diet | A special diet for those with liver disease should be low in protein and higher in carbohydrates. (27 Sep 1997) |
| liver diseases, alcoholic | Liver diseases associated with alcoholism. It usually refers to the coexistence of two or more subentities, i.e., alcoholic fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, and alcoholic liver cirrhosis, but may be the general entity when subentities are not specified. (12 Dec 1998) |
| liver diseases, parasitic | Infections of the liver with a parasite. They are caused most commonly by trematodes (flukes). (12 Dec 1998) |
| liver enzyme | <biochemistry> Special proteins found in the cells of the liver that are responsible for catalysing specific metabolic reactions. They may become elevated in the bloodstream in conditions of hepatitis or liver cancer. See: liver function tests. (27 Sep 1997) |
| liver extracts | <chemical> Extracts of liver tissue containing uncharacterised specific factors with specific activities; a soluble thermostable fraction of mammalian liver is used in the treatment of pernicious anaemia. Pharmacological action: haematinics. (12 Dec 1998) |
| liver failure | A condition of severe end-stage liver dysfunction that is accompanied by a decline in mental status that may range from confusion (hepatic encephalopathy) to unresponsiveness (hepatic coma). Other features include a mousy odour to the breath, difficulty with balance and walking, tremor and impaired speech. (27 Sep 1997) |
| liver failure, acute | A form of liver failure with rapid onset. It is often induced by the toxic effect of drugs and various toxic substances in experimental studies in animals and in clinical states in humans. If coma ensues, the constellation of neurological symptoms is referred to as hepatic encephalopathy. (12 Dec 1998) |