In Singapore, liver disease is a major public health concern. And questions like “where can you find a liver specialist in Singapore?” may arise in some conversations. Here are a few things to know about liver diseases and the specialists that treat them in Singapore.
Type of liver diseases
- Liver cancer
As the name suggests, liver cancer is a type of cancer that comes from the cells of the liver-a vital organ of the body responsible for a lot of important bodily processes such as cleansing the body of toxins. Liver cancer is affecting a large number of people and is reported to be the third most common cancer that leads to death globally. As reports have shown, after lung and colon cancer, liver cancer is the third most prevalent cancer-related cause of death in men in Singapore.
A number of cancers commonly affect the liver, the most prevalent form of which is Hepatocellular carcinoma. This disease develops in the hepatocyte that functions as the liver’s primary cell. Hepatoblastoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma are two other, substantially less common types of liver cancer.
As most cancers, symptoms or signs of liver cancer are not surfacing in its early stages. Common symptoms of liver cancer are the loss of weight without trying, reduced appetite, feeling full even though a small meal was eaten, nausea or diarrhea, a right side fullness under the rib cage that can indicate an enlarged liver, a fullness under the left side ribs resulting from an enlarged spleen, abdominal (belly) pain or discomfort close to the right shoulder blade, abdominal swelling or fluid accumulation (belly), itching and eyes and skin that have become yellow (jaundice), fever, swollen veins on the abdomen that are visible through the skin, and unusual bleeding or bruising, among others.
Liver cancer can happen to anyone but there groups of individuals who are identified to be at high risk of developing the disease. Older people (over 60 years old are at risk of liver cancer and the disease is prevalent in those over 85 years old . Male groups are said to be prone to liver cancer as statistics show. Those who are suffering from a number of medical diseases, such as HIV, liver flukes, cirrhosis, gallstones, diabetes, hepatitis, and liver parasites are likely to develop liver cancer. Family history can be a factor in developing the disease. There are also cases where the cancer cells from another cancer in the body move to the liver, which results in secondary liver cancer.
- Liver Cirrhosis
The scarring (fibrosis) of the liver that results from chronic liver injury is called cirrhosis. The liver cannot function correctly because of the scar tissue. Because it develops after earlier stages of liver damage from illnesses like hepatitis, cirrhosis is sometimes referred to as end-stage liver disease. Cirrhosis usually leaves permanent liver damage that cannot be reversed. However, further harm can be prevented and, in rare cases, reversed if liver cirrhosis is identified early and the cause is addressed.
Symptoms of liver cirrhosis includes fatigue, readily bruising or bleeding, reduced appetite, nausea, edema or the swelling in the ankles, foot or legs, loss of weight, skin itching, skin and eye discolouration that is yellow (jaundice), ascites or fluid buildup inside your abdomen, skin that has spider-like blood vessels, redness on the hands’ palms, missing or skipped periods that are not caused by menopause in women and testicular shrinkage in men, gynecomastia or enlarged breasts, loss of sex desire, moodiness, confusion, and slurred speech or hepatic encephalopathy.
- Hepatitis
Hepatitis is the term used to describe liver swelling. Viral infections, chemicals, drug addiction, some drugs, immunological problems, and other factors can all contribute to it. Viral hepatitis can take many different forms, including hepatitis A, B, and C.
Some hepatitis patients have minimal or no symptoms, which means they are asymptomatic. However, any of the following may be one or more of the general hepatitis symptoms discomfort in the stomach:
- dark feces
- reduced appetite
- Fever
- Jaundice (yellowish skin and eyes)
- Sleepiness
- nausea and elation
- edema (swelling due to fluid build-up)
- aching joints
- stools with a light color
Liver Specialists
The liver specialists or Hepatologists are medical professionals who identify, treat, and manage conditions affecting your pancreas, gallbladder, liver, and bile ducts. In order to evaluate the problem and decide on the most effective course of action, hepatologists strive to determine which hepatic organ is most afflicted and to what extent. In Singapore and in most countries, hepatologists graduate from medical school with advanced degrees and certifications.
Hepatologists treat liver conditions primarily, such as infection with hepatitis, alcohol-related and non-alcohol related fatty liver disease, jaundice, liver cirrhosis, hepatic metabolic disorders, and liver tumor. A hepatologist may also assist in the treatment of various disorders that affect the hepatic system, including pancreatitis,cancer of the pancreas, gallstones, gallstone cancer, cholecystitis or gallbladder swelling or inflammation, choledocholithiasis or bile duct stones, bile duct adenomas, and bile duct cancer
Numerous procedures are carried out by hepatologists to assist in the diagnosis or treatment of diseases that damage your liver system. Common procedures performed by by hepatologists are:
- blood testing to look for illnesses such pancreatitis and gallstones as well as inflammation of the hepatic organs
- ultrasound and other imaging tests that are used to detect malignancies, cysts, and gallstones.
- Cholescintigraphy scans which make use of tiny amounts of radioactive material to help obtain images of the biliary tract
- endoscopies that use long tubes with cameras (devices generally called endoscopes) to capture photos of your hepatic system so that your gallbladder and bile ducts can be seen more clearly
- hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid (HIDA) scans to track the production of bile
- liver organ biopsies of cysts, tumors, or other abnormal growths
For a number of causes, such as drug overdose, gastrointestinal bleeding from portal hypertension, jaundice, ascites, enzyme abnormalities, or blood tests showing liver disease, a general practitioner may refer a patient to a hepatologist. A general practitioner might also send a patient to a hepatologist if there is evidence of disorders in the biliary tree or if the patient has a fever suggestive of tropical diseases like kala-azar, schistosomiasis, or hydatid cyst. In addition to treating liver transplant recipients, these doctors may also manage patients with pancreatitis or hemochromatosis.
Andrea Digestive Clinic
#21-11/12 Royal Square at Novena 101
Irrawaddy Road Singapore 329565
https://andrea-digestive-clinic.com
+65 6264 2836