There are 2 main types of cancer that start in the liver (called primary liver cancer). These are named after the part of the liver in which the cancer first develops:

• Hepatocellular carcinoma starts in the main cells of the liver (called hepatocytes); it is the most common type of primary liver cancer
• Cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) begins in cells that line the bile duct.

Less common types of primary liver cancer include:^[1]

• angiosarcoma and hemangiosarcoma, very rare types of liver cancer that start in the blood vessels
• hepatoblastoma, a very rare type of liver cancer that only affects children younger than 4 years old.

Find out more

National Cancer Institute (US), Liver- Patient  Version
National Cancer Institute (US), Bile Duct Cancer (Cholangiocarcinoma) - Patient  Version

When reading materials that are published in other countries, note that some of the information may not apply to Australian patients.