liver resection?

Hi Dr. S - I've heard you speak at HepC support groups. I have HepC stage 3/4 fibrosis leading to cyrossis -  I had   to be taken off the hep c treatent - I was hospitalized with a severe rash from the incivek. Before releasing me from the hospital, they ran a CT scan and found a 1.76cc mass on the dome of my liver. Because of the location of the lmass,, an ultrasound guided biopsy to determine if it's benign or malignant is not possible. Doctors have strongly suggested a liver resection to remove the mass. A CT scan a year ago did't show the mass. I am 57 female living in NYC
What are your thoughts.

[Thomas D Schiano, MD]

this in fact could be the beginning of a small HCC.  in people who have early cirrhosis, resection is the best attempt at resection.  it however can be difficult to distinguish between HCC and regenerative nodules.  we rarely if ever biiopsy such lesions because of the high frequency of false (-) biopsies.  I would recommend that you are seen by a very experienced hepatobiliary surgeon (typically at liver transplant centers) before any attempt at resection.  good luck.