From Fatty Liver to Liver Cancer: How Doctors Treated a High-Risk Senior Without Surgery

Doctors in Delhi have successfully treated liver cancer in a senior citizen with the help of a single minimally invasive, non-surgical angiographic procedure. Doctors say the 72-year-old patient was considered high-risk and unfit for surgery or general anesthesia due to advanced liver disease. Alam (name changed) came all the way to the national capital from Srinagar after he was diagnosed with early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma – also known as liver cancer, with a large tumour measuring approximately 8 cm, along with advanced liver cirrhosis. Doctors confirmed that the cancer developed due to long-standing fatty liver disease - a condition that often remains undetected because it may not cause symptoms in its early stages. However, doctors

informed that Alam did not consume alcohol and was fit for his age. But years of unhealthy dietary habits – which included frequent consumption of junk and unprocessed food led to fatty liver, which gradually progressed to irreversible liver damage and eventually cancer.

Doctors conducted TACE, a minimally invasive surgery

As open surgery posed a life-threatening risk, doctors opted for Transarterial Chemoembolization, or TACE, a minimally invasive, image-guided procedure in which chemotherapy is delivered directly to the tumour through blood vessels while cutting off its blood supply. During pre-procedure imaging, doctors also discovered that the patient had been suffering from severe urinary obstruction for over two years due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), an age-related enlargement of the prostate gland. The condition had caused painful urination, extreme urgency, and frequent nighttime urination, significantly affecting his quality of life.

How was the procedure conducted?

Since vascular access had already been established and the patient could undergo only one intervention, doctors made a clinical decision to treat both conditions in the same session. Following TACE, the team performed Prostatic Artery Embolization, a non-surgical procedure that reduces blood flow to the enlarged prostate, allowing it to shrink naturally and relieve urinary symptoms. “Fatty liver is often ignored, but when it progresses, it can permanently damage the liver and even lead to cancer. This case highlights how lifestyle-related fatty liver alone can result in cirrhosis and cancer. Using image-guided, non-surgical techniques, we were able to safely manage both liver cancer and severe urinary obstruction in a patient who could not tolerate surgery or anesthesia,” said Dr Abhay Kapoor, Director, Interventional Radiology, Paras Health. The combined procedure lasted approximately three hours, and Alam was discharged within three days after stabilization of liver parameters, without any complications. “I never imagined that fatty liver could turn into cancer. I was scared when doctors said surgery was risky for me. This treatment gave me a second chance without surgery, and my daily discomfort is finally gone,” he said.Also read: Your Liver Is Tired: How Modern Lifestyles Are Quietly Damaging Liver Health

Why is it important not ignore liver issues?

According to doctors, it is important not to ignore liver issues, as it can be dangerous since the liver is a vital organ that rarely shows symptoms until damage is advanced and potentially irreversible. As a "silent" organ, untreated issues like inflammation or fat accumulation can rapidly progress to cirrhosis, liver failure, or cancer. Early detection is crucial to prevent life-threatening complications. Doctors noted that the case highlights the serious and often underestimated risks of untreated fatty liver disease and demonstrates how modern image-guided, minimally invasive treatments can offer safe and effective alternatives for elderly and medically complex patients who are not suitable candidates for conventional surgery.