Thomas D. Boyer Liver Institute

02/27/2026

there are notable disparities in incidence and mortality of liver cancer amongst racial and ethnic populations? According to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program, racial and ethnic groups have a higher burden of liver cancer with American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) persons having the highest incidence and mortality rates.

02/25/2026

The Difference between Fibrosis & Cirrhosis:

Chronic liver disease can be defined in 4 stages with 2 of them being fibrosis and cirrhosis. Fibrosis is the gradual stiffing of the liver where the beginning of liver scarring occurs whereas cirrhosis is the severe liver scarring is present. The key difference is that fibrosis is reversible whereas cirrhosis is permanent. Get screened to ensure that your liver is in good health and to prevent cirrhosis from occurring.

For more info:

Learn about the many causes and effects of liver disease, and what to do about it.

02/20/2026

With February being Cholangiocarcinoma Awareness Month, it is important to understand how it is treated to bring awareness and develop better treatments.

Depending on the cancer stage, there are 2 types of treatment for cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer):
1) Resecable cancer: bile duct cancer may be completely removed by surgery.
2) Unresectable cancer: most cases of intrahepatic, distal, and perihilar bile duct cancer are unresectable and cannot be completely removed. Typically treated with various neoadjuvant therapies.

For more information:

Bile duct cancer (also called cholangiocarcinoma) can occur in the bile ducts in the liver (intrahepatic) or outside the liver (perihilar or distal ). Learn about the types of bile duct cancer, risk factors, clinical features, staging, and treatment for bile duct cancer in this expert-reviewed summa...

02/18/2026

there are 3 types of cholangiocarcinoma based on where the cancer occurs? They are known as the following:

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma - the parts of the bile ducts within the liver and is sometimes classified as a type of liver cancer.

Hilar cholangiocarcinoma - occurs in the bile ducts just outside of the liver and also called perihilar cholangiocarcinoma.

Distal cholangiocarcinoma - occurs in the portion of the bile duct nearest the small intestine. This type is also called extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Learn more about cholangiocarcinoma here:

Learn about symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis and treatment, including transplant, for this rare cancer that affects the bile ducts of older adults.

02/13/2026

The Relationship between Liver Disease and Heart Health:

With February being Heart health Month, let's discuss the relationship between liver disease and heart health. Both heart and liver disease share common risk factors that are associated to conditions such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Because of these associations, it is important that to check both your heart and your liver to ensure proper function of both organs and to make health lifestyle choices. To learn more about their impact, check out this study: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11374492/

02/11/2026

What is Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency?
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, or Alpha-1, is an inherited genetic disorder that causes low levels of a protein (AAT) that protects your lungs. Alpha-1 increases your risk of developing certain diseases, including emphysema and cirrhosis.

How does Alpha-1 affect the liver?
Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) is a protein that forms in your liver and moves through your bloodstream to your lungs. AAT acts as an inhibitor to the enzyme, neutrophil elastase, and if neutrophil elastase continues to be active without it being "shut off" by AAT, it can destroy the lungs and the liver. To learn more: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21175-alpha-1-antitrypsin-deficiency

02/06/2026

February is Cholangiocarcinoma Awareness Month, and here are some quick facts about what it is.

Cholangiocarcinoma, bile duct cancer, is a rare disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the bile ducts. There are two types of bile duct cancer: intrahepatic (inside the liver) and extrahepatic (outside the liver) bile duct cancer. Signs and symptoms include the following: jaundice (yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes), dark urine, clay colored stool, pain in the abdomen, fever, itchy skin, nausea and vomiting, and weight loss for an unknown reason. For more information: https://www.cancer.gov/types/liver/bile-duct-cancer

02/04/2026

Check out our February Newsletter -

The Boyer Liver Institute, launched in 2000, is dedicated to research, education, diagnosis and treatment of all forms of liver disease. Stay updated with us to know about current studies, free Hep-C testing, and more! Care for patients suffering from liver disorders such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C...

01/30/2026

that chronic liver disease and cirrhosis is ranked #9 for leading causes of death in the state of Arizona. According to the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), Apache, Navajo, and La Paz counties have the highest mortality rates for chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. Make sure to protect yourself from liver disease by adopting a healthy lifestyle and getting screened regularly.

01/23/2026

ABCDEs of Viral Hepatitis:

Viral hepatitis is the most common cause of hepatitis in the United States, and, currently, there are 5 types of hepatitis viruses that exist. All the viruses cause a new or "acute" infection, but viruses, like Hepatitis B and C, cause long-term or "chronic" infections that lead to severe outcomes like cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer. Here we have an updated list on how each virus is spread, how common it is in the US, and how to prevent/treat each virus.

01/21/2026

Hemochromatosis is a condition that causes the body to absorb too much iron from food. Excess iron is stored in the organs, especially the liver, and can lead to life-threatening conditions, such as liver disease, heart problems and diabetes. Read more about symptoms and causes here:

This liver disorder causes your body to absorb too much iron from the foods you eat. Learn about symptoms, causes and treatment for this condition that usually runs in families.

01/16/2026

What's the difference between viral hepatitis and autoimmune hepatitis?

Viral hepatitis (Hepatitis A, B and C) are contagious viruses that can be spread via food contamination, having unprotected s*x, or blood to blood contact. While viral infections can trigger autoimmune hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis is not the same as viral hepatitis as it cannot be spread to other people. This editorial discusses the relationship between autoimmune hepatitis and the hepatitis C virus (HCV) to understand treatment options post-direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) and how viral infections can trigger:

Delving into the immunological crossroads of liver diseases, this editorial explores the dynamic interplay between hepatitis C virus (HCV) and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). While HCV primarily manifests as a viral infection impacting the liver, ...