Baylor Scott & White Liver and Pancreas Disease Center

Liver cancer

Liver cancer and intrahepatic bile duct cancer are some of Texas's most common causes of cancer deaths. Cancers that begin in the liver are called primary liver cancers. Tumors that start elsewhere in the body and then spread are metastatic liver cancers. The liver and pancreas disease team evaluate and treat primary and metastatic liver cancers.

Liver cancer can be aggressive and complicated, and our multidisciplinary team works quickly and efficiently to provide an individualized treatment plan. Treatment options vary depending on the cancer stage, the tumor's location and size, and a patient's overall health.

Surgery to remove early-stage disease often provides the best chance for successful treatment. Our surgeons are also transplant-trained and utilize advanced surgical technology to remove the cancerous parts of the liver without jeopardizing the liver's vital function.

Laparoscopic microwave ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that can eliminate a liver tumor without surgery. With tumor ablation, heat is used to burn the liver cancer away. In addition, our team will arrange for local or regional liver cancer therapies, including chemoembolization, percutaneous microwave ablation, stereotactic radiosurgery, and Y-90 radiotherapy.

Liver transplantation may be an option for select liver cancer patients who meet strict medical, surgical, social, and tumor-size criteria. Living donor liver transplantation is considered for approved candidates, which offers organ availability more quickly and allows the patient to avoid cancer progression and its life-threatening complications.

All complex liver tumor patients are presented twice monthly at the multidisciplinary liver tumor board, where all treatment options are explored.

Pancreatic cancer

The physicians and surgeons on the medical staff have extensive experience with complex pancreatic cancer and work closely with nurses and coordinators to develop a personalized care plan for each patient. The surgical team performs robotic and laparoscopic resection of the pancreas as well as open pancreas resections. All pancreatic tumor patients are presented to the multidisciplinary tumor board and the most innovative research and treatment options are considered.