University of California San Francisco

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Acute liver failure (ALF) (also called fulminant hepatic failure) is a rare condition characterized by the abrupt onset of severe liver injury, manifest as a profound liver dysfunction as well as a confusional state called hepatic encephalopathy in individuals with no prior…
What is Alagille syndrome? Alagille syndrome is a genetic condition that results in various symptoms in different parts of the body, including the liver. A person with Alagille syndrome has fewer than the normal number of small bile ducts inside the liver.
The liver is one of the largest and most complex organs in the body. It stores vital energy and nutrients, manufactures proteins and enzymes necessary for good health, protects the body from disease, and breaks down (or metabolizes) and helps remove harmful toxins, like alcohol…
Ampullary cancer is a malignant tumor that arises from the Ampulla of Vater, the last centimeter of the common bile duct as it passes through the duodenum, the first section of the intestine. All pancreatic and biliary secretions enter the duodenum…
What is autoimmune hepatitis? Autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic—or long lasting—disease in which the body's immune system attacks the normal components, or cells, of the liver and causes inflammation and liver damage. The immune system normally protects people from infection by…

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A tumor (also called neoplasm) is the abnormal growth of cells and/or tissues. Tumors are either benign or malignant, and are unregulated by the natural control mechanisms of the body. By BruceBlaus (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

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Choledochal cysts, are rare congenital dilations (enlargements) of the bile ducts, a network of  long tube-like structures that carry bile from the liver to small intestine for digestion. Biliary System Choledochal cysts are classified into 5 types, based on site of…
Choledochal cysts, are rare congenital dilations (enlargements) of the bile ducts, a network of long tube-like structures that carry bile from the liver to small intestine for digestion. Biliary System Choledochal cysts are classified into 5 types, based on site of the…
Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is a large gland behind the stomach and close to the duodenum-the first part of the small intestine. The pancreas secretes digestive juices, or enzymes, into the duodenum through a tube called the pancreatic duct.…
Cirrhosis is the endpoint in patients who have chronic progressive liver disease. Patients with abnormal liver function who develop ascites, variceal hemorrhage, hepatic encephalopathy,or renal impairment are considered to have end-stage liver disease (ESLD). While liver…
¿Qué es la cirrosis? La cirrosis es la cicatrización del hígado. El tejido cicatricial se forma como resultado de una herida o una enfermedad crónica, que quiere decir de larga duración. El tejido cicatricial reemplaza el tejido sano del hígado y obstruye el flujo normal de la…

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Chronic liver failure, also called end-stage liver disease, progresses over months, years, or decades. Most often, chronic liver failure is the result of cirrhosis, a condition in which scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue until the liver cannot function adequately. …

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Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH is a common, often “silent” liver disease. It resembles alcoholic liver disease, but occurs in people who drink little or no alcohol. The major feature in NASH is fat in the liver, along with inflammation and damage. Most people with NASH…
La esteatohepatitis no alcohólica (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, NASH por sus siglas) es una enfermedad común del hígado. A menudo es “silenciosa”, es decir, no presenta síntomas. La NASH se parece a las enfermedades del hígado causadas por el consumo de alcohol, pero se…

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What causes hemochromatosis? Primary Hemochromatosis Inherited genetic defects cause primary hemochromatosis, and mutations in the HFE gene are associated with up to 90 percent of cases.1 The&
What is hepatitis B? Hepatitis* B is a virus, or infection, that causes liver disease and 
Did you know that Asian and Pacific Islander Americans and other foreign-born Americans are at higher risk for chronic hepatitis B, which can lead to liver failure and liver cancer?
您知道亞太裔和其他外國出生的美國人在罹患慢性B型肝炎上冒著更高的風險嗎?慢性B型肝炎可導致肝衰竭和肝癌。 B型肝炎是什麼? B型肝炎是一種肝臟疾病,透過接觸感染B型肝炎病毒者的血液、精液或其他體液而傳播。該疾病最常見的傳播方式是由感染的母親在嬰兒出生時傳染給嬰兒。B型肝炎還可以透過性活動、傷口與傷口的接觸,以及與帶有血液的物體,如剃刀、牙刷、注射器、紋身以及在身體穿環孔的針頭接觸而傳播。 B型肝炎不會因為一般的接觸如握手或擁抱而傳播;分享食物或飲料、打噴嚏和咳嗽,以及哺乳也不會傳播B型肝炎。
¿Qué es la hepatitis B? La hepatitis B es un virus, o una infección, que provoca enfermedad e inflamación hepáticas (del hígado). Los virus pueden provocar enfermedades. Por ejemplo, la gripe es provocada por un virus. Es posible que las personas se contagien los virus de…
(Hepatitis B: What Asian and Pacific Islander Americans Need to Know) Alam mo bang ang mga Asyanong- Amerikano at mga Amerikanong taga-islang Pasipiko at iba pang mga ipinanganak sa ibang bansa ay mas nanganganib para sa chronic hepatitis B, na maaaring magtungo sa kahinaan ng…
Quý vị có biết là Người Mỹ gốc Á Châu và Thuộc Đảo Thái Bình Dương và Người Mỹ sanh đẻ ở nước ngoài có nhiều cơ nguy bị bệnh viêm gan B mãn tính hơn, bệnh này có thể dẫn đến suy gan và ung thư gan không?
What is hepatitis C? Hepatitis* C is a 
¿Qué es la hepatitis C? La hepatitis C es un virus, o una infección, que provoca enfermedad e inflamación hepáticas (del hígado). Los virus pueden provocar enfermedades. Por ejemplo, la gripe es provocada por un virus. Es posible que las personas se contagien los virus de…

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Liver cysts are thin-walled sacs filled with air, fluids, or semi-solid material. Liver cysts occur in approximately 5% of people. The majority of cysts are benign, but all cancers are able to produce malignant cysts. Patients…
Liver metastases are tumors that have spread to the liver from other areas of the the body. Cancer cells often have aggressive tendencies and will invade other areas of the body. They usually do so by floating in the blood stream and then replicating themselves in…

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A pancreatic pseudocyst is a fluid-filled sac that forms in the abdomen  comprised of pancreatic enzymes, blood, and necrotic (dead) tissue. Pancreatic pseudocysts account for approximately 75% of all pancreatic masses and typically are complications of chronic…
What are porphyrias? Porphyrias are rare disorders that affect mainly the skin or nervous system and may cause abdominal pain. These disorders are usually inherited, meaning they are caused by abnormalities in genes passed from parents to children. When a person has a porphyria…
What is primary biliary cirrhosis? Primary biliary cirrhosis is a chronic, or long lasting, disease that causes the small bile ducts in the liver to become inflamed and damaged and ultimately disappear.
What is primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC)? PSC is a disease that damages and blocks bile ducts inside and outside the liver. Bile is a liquid made in the liver. Bile ducts are tubes that carry bile out of the liver to the gallbladder and small intestine. In the intestine…

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The liver processes almost everything a person consumes, including chemicals, medications and alcohol. In some instances, these substances may cause serious injury to the liver, resulting in toxic hepatitis - a condition that causes inflammation of the liver.

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What is viral hepatitis? Viral hepatitis is inflammation of the liver caused by a virus. Several different viruses, named the hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E viruses, cause viral hepatitis.

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What is Wilson disease? Wilson disease is a genetic disease that prevents the body from removing extra copper. The body needs a small amount of copper from food to stay healthy; however, too much copper is poisonous. Normally, the liver filters extra copper and releases it…

Frequently Searched Conditions

Displaying 1 - 17 of 17

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Cryosurgery freezes the tumor to stop it from growing. This is done with a special probe that contains liquid nitrogen or liquid carbon dioxide. The probe is placed through the skin and directed into the tumor, guided by computed tomography (CT), …
The CyberKnife — one of the most advanced forms of radiosurgery — is a painless, non-invasive treatment that delivers high doses of precisely targeted radiation to destroy tumors or lesions within the body. It uses a robotic arm to deliver highly focused beams of radiation.

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A pancreatectomy is the surgical removal of all or part of the pancreas. A distal pancreatectomy is removal of the body and tail of the pancreas. The pancreas is an organ about the size of a hand located in the abdomen in the vicinity of the stomach, intestines,…

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What is ERCP? Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a procedure that combines upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy and x-rays to treat problems of the bile and

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Embolization is a therapy to treat liver tumors by blocking their blood supply. Because liver tumors thrive on highly oxygenated blood from the hepatic artery, blocking that supply may kill it. Embolization is often used to treat tumors not amenable to surgery (liver…

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Inflammation associated with recurrent bouts of pancreatitis causes scarring and blockage of the pancreatic ducts. This produces severe chronic pain and often malabsorption because the normal function of digestive enzymes is compromised.

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What is a liver biopsy? A liver biopsy is a procedure that involves taking a small piece of liver tissue for examination with a microscope for signs of damage or disease. The three types of liver biopsy are the following:
A liver resection is the surgical removal of all or a portion of the liver. It is also referred to as a hepatectomy, full or partial. A complete liver resection is performed in the setting of a transplant a diseased liver is removed from a deceased…

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While some liver tumors can be removed surgically, the majority are inoperable and must be treated by alternative means.  One such method is ablation (tissue destruction), a surgical procedure traditionally performed using a number of …

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A pancreatectomy is the surgical removal of all or part of the pancreas. The pancreas is an organ about the size of a hand located in the abdomen in the vicinity of the stomach, intestines, and other organs. It lies behind the stomach and in front of the spine. The…
With percutaneous ethanol (alcohol) Injection,  surgeons or interventional radiologists locate the tumor, usually with ultrasound guidannce, and pass a needle into the tumor. A liquid containing a high concentration of alcohol is then injected through the needle. The…
Portal vein embolization (PVE) is a procedure that induces regrowth on one side of the liver in advance of a planned hepatic resection on the other side. The procedure is frequently used in primary liver cancer (hepatocellular…

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Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive treatment, one of several types of ablation therapy, where surgery is not a good option.  Guided by imaging, a thin needle or probe is inserted through the skin and into the tumor.The probe…
UCSF is one of the few centers in the U.S. and world-wide using a specialized surgical shunt to treat portal hypertension. The surgical procedure utlilizes a Rex shunt, also known as a meso-portal shunt, to restore normal blood flow back to the liver in patients who have…

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The Whipple Procedure, known as a a pancreaticoduodenectomy, is performed to treat the following conditions:

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Radioembolization also known as selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT), is a form of radiation therapy used to selected patients who are not candidates for surgery due to the location of their tumors or their performance (health) status. …