Liver metastasis

A liver metastasis is a malignant tumor in the liver that has spread from another organ that is affected by cancer. This can also be called secondary liver cancer or metastatic liver disease. The liver is a common site for metastatic disease because of its rich, dual blood supply (the liver receives blood via the hepatic artery and portal vein). Metastatic tumors in the liver are 20 times more common than primary liver tumors (tumors that originate in the liver). In 50% of all cases the primary tumor is of the gastrointestinal tract; other common sites include the breast, ovaries, bronchus and kidney. People with colorectal cancer are at risk of liver metastases.