Medical Oncologist
CION Cancer Clinics
What CION's liver surveillance clinic does | CION Cancer Clinics
CION's liver surveillance clinic plans regular liver checks for people at higher risk, such as those with cirrhosis or some types of hepatitis B. It arranges an ultrasound and AFP blood test every six months through diagnostic partners, compares each result with the last, and acts quickly on any change. This page explains who it suits, what happens at each visit and what is arranged through partners. At CION Cancer Clinics, our specialists help you understand your own risk and plan regular liver checks that fit it.
NG
Medically reviewed by Dr. Naresh GunduConsultant Medical Oncologist · MBBS, DNB (Internal Medicine), DM (Medical Oncology, AIIMS) · last reviewed October 2026, next review due October 2027
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On this page
- What does a liver surveillance clinic actually do?
- What happens at the clinic, visit after visit?
- What should I expect at the first appointment?
- What does CION do itself, and what is arranged through partners?
- Is a cancer clinic the wrong place if I do not have cancer?
- What this page cannot tell you
- Common questions about the surveillance clinic
The short answer
What does a liver surveillance clinic actually do?
CION's liver surveillance clinic plans and keeps track of regular liver checks for people at higher risk of liver cancer. It decides whether you need surveillance, arranges the ultrasound and AFP blood test every six months through diagnostic partners, reads each result against the last one, and acts quickly if something changes.
Why a clinic, and not just a scan
Most people at risk can get an ultrasound somewhere. What usually goes wrong is everything around the scan. The next date is forgotten, a report mentioning a nodule sits unread, or a different centre each time makes the results impossible to compare. The clinic exists to stop those gaps. Liver cancer found early on surveillance is often curable. Found late, when it causes symptoms, it usually is not.
Who it is meant for
The clinic is for people who feel well but carry a known risk: cirrhosis from any cause, some people with hepatitis B, and people whose hepatitis C was treated after cirrhosis had already set in. It is not a general health check, and it is not the place to investigate new symptoms.
If you already have pain, yellow eyes, weight loss or swelling of the tummy, ask for a consultation now rather than joining a six-monthly schedule.What the clinic covers
What happens at the clinic, visit after visit?
Each part has one job: making sure a small change is never missed and never left waiting.
Deciding whether you need it
An oncologist looks at your reports, the cause of any liver disease and your family history, and tells you honestly whether surveillance applies. Sometimes the answer is no.
Arranging the checks
The ultrasound and AFP blood test are arranged through diagnostic partners. Where possible, the same partner each time, so the pictures can be compared fairly.
Reading results side by side
Each report is read against the earlier ones. A slow rise in AFP or a new spot on the scan matters more than any single number.
What the team watches for
- A new nodule, or one that has grown
- An AFP that keeps rising
- Signs the liver itself is weakening
Acting fast on a change
If a nodule appears, CION arranges a contrast CT or MRI and the tumour board reviews it. You are not sent back to wait for the next routine visit.
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistYour first visit
What should I expect at the first appointment?
Bring every liver report you have
Old scans, blood tests, hepatitis B or C results, FibroScan reports and discharge summaries. Older reports help the doctor see how things have changed, so do not leave them at home.
The conversation
The doctor asks about the cause of your liver condition, alcohol, diabetes, medicines and family history. Answer honestly. Nobody is there to judge, and the plan depends on the facts.
A plan in writing
You leave knowing whether you need surveillance, which tests, when the next one is due, and what should make you call before that date.
Reminders and follow-up
The team helps you keep track of the next date and the reports. Many families also set their own reminder on a phone or a wall calendar, which is a good back-up.
Being exact
What does CION do itself, and what is arranged through partners?
At CION
Through partner hospitals and labs
Consultations and second opinions
Ultrasound, contrast CT, MRI and FibroScan
Planning the surveillance schedule
Blood tests including AFP
Tumour board review of any new finding
Liver biopsy, if one is ever needed
Help with scheme paperwork
Hepatology care, including hepatitis B and C medicines
Leave a number, we will call you
One field. No form to fill in, and no charge for the call.
Commonly believed
Is a cancer clinic the wrong place if I do not have cancer?
"Going to a cancer clinic means they think I have cancer."
Most people in surveillance never develop liver cancer. Seeing an oncologist simply means the person reading your scans knows exactly what an early tumour looks like and what to do next.
"My liver doctor already checks me, so this is the same thing."
It may be. If your hepatologist or physician already arranges regular scans and reads them, keep going. The clinic is for people with no such plan, or a plan that keeps slipping.
"A blood test every year is enough."
AFP alone misses many early liver cancers. The ultrasound is the main test, and the blood test supports it. A normal AFP on its own does not mean the liver is clear.
"If I drank in the past, they will lecture me."
Risk factors are not fault. The team needs to know about alcohol to plan your care, not to blame you. Stopping now still helps.
Did you know
When a surveillance scan finds a small nodule, the usual next step is a triple-phase contrast scan, not a biopsy. Some liver cancers can be diagnosed from the way they light up on that scan alone.
Being straight with you
What this page cannot tell you
It cannot tell you whether you need surveillance. That depends on how scarred your liver is, the cause, and your hepatitis results. Our page on who needs liver cancer screening explains the usual groups, and a doctor confirms where you fit.
Who this clinic does not suit
People with mild fatty liver and no scarring usually do not need six-monthly scans. People already treated for liver cancer follow their own team's schedule. Anyone with new symptoms needs a consultation now, not a place on a surveillance list.
It cannot give you a price
Costs depend on the partner centre, the tests and any scheme you are covered by. Our page on the cost of surveillance in Hyderabad explains what moves the bill. Ask for a written, itemised estimate.
Vomiting blood, black stools, new confusion, or fever with a swollen tummy are not surveillance questions. Go to hospital today.Questions we are asked
Common questions about the surveillance clinic
Do I need a referral to join?
No. You can call the helpline and book a consultation yourself. A letter from your physician or hepatologist helps if you have one, because it tells the team what has already been checked. Bring all your liver reports either way, including old ones.
Can I keep seeing my own liver doctor?
Yes, and you should. Hepatitis B or C medicines and cirrhosis care stay with your hepatologist or physician. The surveillance clinic works alongside them, focusing on finding liver cancer early, and shares results so everyone sees the same picture.
Can I have the scans done near my home?
Often yes, especially if you live in a district far from Hyderabad. The team can advise whether a local centre is suitable and review the report remotely. Using the same centre each time makes the reports easier to compare.
What happens if a nodule is found?
CION arranges a contrast CT or MRI through a diagnostic partner, and the tumour board reviews it. Many nodules turn out not to be cancer. Our page on a nodule found on surveillance explains the next steps.
How long will I stay in surveillance?
For most people with cirrhosis, surveillance carries on for life, as long as finding a cancer early would still lead to treatment. Your doctor reviews this as your health changes. Do not stop on your own because several scans have been normal.
Can family members be checked at the same visit?
If hepatitis B runs in the family, relatives should have a blood test, and those not infected can be vaccinated. The team can advise on this. Testing family is about protecting them, never about blame.
Does Aarogyasri or Ayushman Bharat cover surveillance?
Scheme coverage depends on the scheme, the test and the centre, and the rules change. The team can help with paperwork and tell you what to check. Confirm the current position with the scheme or the centre before each visit.
How do I book a first appointment?
Call the CION helpline and say you would like a liver surveillance consultation. Have your recent liver reports ready. The team will find a time at the centre nearest to you and tell you what to bring on the day.
Your Specialists
Meet CION's liver cancer specialists. Bring your scan reports and liver blood tests.
Our medical and surgical oncologists plan liver cancer care together, weighing the tumour and how well your liver works before choosing surgery, a liver-directed procedure or medicines.
Medical Oncologist
Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy
MBBS(Gold Medal), DNB(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Gold Medal)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla
MBBS, MD(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Adyar,Chennai), ECMO, MRCP SCE(UK)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Owais Mohammed
MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)
Medical Oncologist
Medical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty
MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery) (AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh)
Surgical Oncologist
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Sources
- National Cancer Institute — Liver Cancer Screening
- AASLD — Practice Guidelines
- MedlinePlus — Alpha Fetoprotein (AFP) Tumor Marker Test
- NHS — Cirrhosis
This page is general information, not a prescription. Do not change or stop any treatment based on what you read here. If anything is worrying you, contact your own treating team — or call our helpline and we will help you reach the right specialist.
Keep reading
Related pages
Who needs liver cancer screening?Check whether surveillance applies to youThe six-monthly ultrasoundWhat the scan is and why six monthsWhy a small nodule needs a triple-phase scan nextThe step after a surveillance findingSurveillance in Telugu: a six-monthly planThe plan with Telugu words to explain it at home
Talk to us
Not sure whether you need liver surveillance?
Share your liver reports with us and a doctor will tell you honestly whether regular checks apply to you. One helpline serves every CION centre.