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I have a 4.2cm hepatic adenoma on my liver. My doctor suggests monitoring it as opposed to removing it. As long as it isn't growing, do I need to worry about cancer? Can it become malignant and just never get any larger?
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Hello, this is Dr. David. I have read your question and am ready to help.
I think I helped you yesterday?
would you like my help again?
the report came back yesterday as a little larger
how much larger?
so my question is, if it remains under 5 cm, does that mean it is not malignant or can it be malignant and our not know it. I guess I don't want to have to worry about it in the future and I'm wondering if it would be easier to have it removed.
3cm now 4.2cm?
3x4.1 to 4.2
4.1cm to 4.2cm is not a significant increase in size.
I guess I don't really understand what constitutes something being malignant
the radiologist when they measure the area on scan use a mouse and a screen cursor.
is it just growth or are there other factors involved
just a slight move of the mouse can change the size that they are measuring.
we are just looking at significant growth
I'm so sorry to be such a pain on this. I guess I'm just trying to understand what we look for when determining if it's malignant or not. I am frustrated because they are saying it's not in a safe spot for biopsy, so I'm left wondering and worrying if it's really malignant and we just don't know it
and that seems to be the only way to tell aside from removing it altogether
which seems drastic
unfortunately you are right, that is the only way to tell if it is changing
is watching the size
sounds like you would be more at peace if you had it removed surgically.
that is not a small surgery.
I think so
then talk to your doctor about see a liver surgeon to have it removed.
so i can be at peace that it is not malignant if it does not grow beyond 5 cm?
or is the biopsy the only way to tell
no, we don't use size cut offs like that.
so the biopsy is the only way
right now, there is no sign of it growing
correct
and so the stability strongly suggest that it is benign.
does cancer always grow?
and how it looks on MRI scan, the MRI characteristics can also suggest benign.
yes, cancer almost always grows.
yes, cancer was never even mentioned on the mri
in the case of the liver , how fast can it grow?
if it was cancer, it would grow within 6 months and get larger substantially.
so there is no way for it to be malignant and spread to other parts of the body without growing?
it would grow before spreading?
yes, it would grow before spreading
ok so if it stays relatively the same size, i can be 99% certain that it's not malignant?
yes, I would completely agree with that.
ok thank you so much and i'm sorry to keep bothering you with this. i think the mind can do more damage than the body sometimes
yes, I know
you are welcome
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