Medical Oncologist
CION Cancer Clinics
Questions to ask your doctor about an incidental liver lesion | CION Cancer Clinics
Start with three questions: what the spot most likely is, how sure the doctor is, and what happens next and when. Most liver spots found by accident are harmless, but some need further tests, and clear answers keep the follow-up from slipping. This page gives you a list to take to the appointment, explains the words you may hear, and says which signs should not wait. At CION Cancer Clinics, our team goes through your scan, blood test and biopsy reports with you and plans the next step.
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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 should I ask the doctor about a spot on my liver?
- Which questions should I ask at the first appointment?
- How do I prepare so the appointment answers my questions?
- What do the words in the doctor's answer mean?
- Four worries that stop people asking questions
- What this page cannot tell you
- Common questions about asking the doctor
The short answer
What should I ask the doctor about a spot on my liver?
Ask three things first: what the spot most likely is, how sure the doctor is, and what happens next and when. Those answers tell you more than any search. Most liver spots found by accident are harmless, such as a cyst or a haemangioma, a tangle of blood vessels. A few need further tests or treatment, and the right questions help you find out which group yours is in.
Why questions matter here
A liver spot is usually found while looking for something else, such as a stomach ache or a health checkup. The doctor who found it may not be the one who follows it up. Plans can get lost between the two. Asking clear questions, and writing down the answers, keeps the plan from slipping.
Who this page is for
This page is for someone with a spot on the liver found by accident, with no cancer diagnosis yet. If you already have cancer elsewhere, the spot may be spread from that cancer, and the questions are different. Ask your treating oncologist directly.
Take a family member with you. Two people remember an answer better than one.Questions to take with you
Which questions should I ask at the first appointment?
Copy these into a notebook or your phone. You do not need to ask all of them, but the first group matters most.
About the spot itself
These questions tell you what the doctor thinks, and how firmly.
- What do you think this most likely is?
- How confident are you from this scan alone?
- Is it one spot or several?
- Does it look like anything that needs urgent attention?
About your liver
A spot in a healthy liver is judged differently from one in a liver with long-standing damage.
- Is the rest of my liver healthy?
- Do I need tests for hepatitis B or C?
- Is there any sign of fatty liver or cirrhosis?
About the next step
These questions turn a worry into a plan with a date.
- Which test comes next, and why that one?
- When should it be done?
- Who will look at the result and call me?
About what to watch for
Ask which symptoms should bring you back before the planned date, so you are not left guessing about every ache.
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistGetting the most from the visit
How do I prepare so the appointment answers my questions?
Gather every report and image
Bring the scan report and the images on a disc or a link, plus any older scans and blood tests. Comparing an old scan with a new one often answers the question faster than a fresh test.
Write down your history honestly
Note any hepatitis, diabetes, weight change, medicines, herbal tonics and how much alcohol you drink. These facts change how the spot is read, and the doctor is not there to judge.
Pick your three most important questions
Appointments can feel rushed. Ask the three that matter most first, then the rest if time allows.
Write the answers down
Ask the doctor to spell any word you do not know. Ask for the next test and the date in writing before you leave.
Ask who to call if nothing happens
Get a name or a number for the clinic, so that a missed call or a lost report does not leave the follow-up hanging.
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Signs that should not wait for the next appointment
Go to hospital today if you vomit blood, pass black stools, become confused or very drowsy, or have yellow eyes together with a fever. See a doctor this week if your skin or eyes turn yellow, your abdomen swells, you lose weight without trying, or a new pain in the upper right abdomen keeps coming back. Ask your doctor to add anything specific to your situation to this list.
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In the answers you get
What do the words in the doctor's answer mean?
- Incidental
- Found by chance, while scanning for something else. It says nothing about whether the spot is harmful.
- Haemangioma
- A harmless tangle of blood vessels. It is the most common liver lump found by accident.
- Indeterminate
- The scan could not tell what it is. It means another test is needed, not that something bad was seen.
- Triple-phase scan
- A CT or MRI with contrast dye, with pictures taken at three timings. It shows how blood flows through the spot.
- Interval scan
- A repeat scan after a set gap, to see whether the spot has changed.
Commonly believed
Four worries that stop people asking questions
"Asking too many questions annoys the doctor."
Good doctors expect questions about a liver spot. A short written list is easier for them to answer than worries that come out in a rush at the end of the visit.
"If I ask for a second opinion, my doctor will be offended."
Second opinions on liver imaging are common and accepted. Asking for your reports and images is your right. You can read more on second opinions on liver imaging.
"I should hide that I drink, or the doctor will judge me."
Alcohol use changes how a liver spot is read and followed. Doctors ask so they can plan safely, not to blame anyone. An honest answer protects you.
"A normal blood test means the spot is nothing."
Liver blood tests are often normal with a spot of any kind, harmless or not. They are useful, but they cannot replace the follow-up scan.
Being straight with you
What this page cannot tell you
It cannot tell you what your spot is, or which answer to expect. That depends on your scans, your liver and your history, read together by a radiologist and a doctor. A list of questions helps you understand their thinking. It does not replace it.
It cannot tell you which test you need
Some spots need only an interval scan. Others need a triple-phase CT or MRI, and a few need a biopsy. The choice depends on what the first picture showed. If the reasons for the plan were not explained, ask again.
Who this does not apply to
If you have cirrhosis, hepatitis B or hepatitis C, a new spot is treated with more caution and the plan is often faster. The same is true if you have had cancer before. In both cases, ask your doctor directly how the rules differ for you, and read about a lesion in a cirrhotic liver.
If you leave an appointment still confused, that is a reason to ask again, not a reason to stop.Questions we are asked
Common questions about asking the doctor
Which doctor should I see about a liver spot?
Start with the doctor who ordered the scan, or a physician or gastroenterologist. If the spot is unclear, or you have liver disease, a hepatologist or an oncologist may be the right next step. Ask the first doctor who should own the follow-up, so it is clear who will call you.
Can I ask for a copy of my scan images?
Yes. Ask for the images on a disc or a download link, not only the printed report. A specialist giving a second opinion usually wants to see the pictures themselves, and future scans are read better when the old ones can be compared.
Should I ask whether I need a biopsy?
It is a fair question. Many liver spots are judged on scans alone, and a biopsy is kept for spots the scans cannot explain. Ask what a biopsy would add in your case, and what the risks are, before agreeing to one or refusing one.
Should I ask about tumour markers like AFP?
You can ask, but a marker alone does not answer the question. AFP is a blood test that can be raised in some liver cancers and also in other conditions, and it can be normal in cancer. Doctors use it alongside scans, never on its own.
What if the doctor's answer is that they are not sure?
That is an honest answer, and it is common with small spots. Ask what would make them sure: a different scan, a repeat scan after a gap, or a specialist review. Then ask when that will happen.
Can I ask questions in Telugu?
Yes. Many doctors in Hyderabad and across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh will answer in Telugu if you ask. If a family member reads English better, bring them to note down the medical words, and ask the doctor to explain those words in Telugu too.
Is it wrong to ask about cost before the next test?
No. Ask what the next test will cost, whether your insurance or a government scheme covers it, and whether a cheaper test would answer the same question. Costs vary by hospital and by the kind of scan, so ask for a written estimate.
Can CION help me understand my report?
Yes. Call the CION helpline and share your report and images. A doctor can explain what the spot most likely is, whether the follow-up plan makes sense, and arrange a specialist opinion if one is needed. CION coordinates any further scans through partner centres.
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
- Liver UK (formerly British Liver Trust) — Benign liver tumours
- NHS — Tests and next steps for liver cancer
- American College of Radiology — ACR Liver Imaging Reporting & Data System (LI-RADS®)
- MedlinePlus — Alpha Fetoprotein (AFP) Tumor Marker Test
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
What happens next after an incidental liver lesionThe usual path from first scan to an answerLesion, nodule, mass, SOL and cyst explainedThe report words, in plain languageWhen to seek a specialist opinionIf the answers you got do not add upThe anxiety of waiting for the next scanGetting through the weeks before the repeat scan
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Not sure what your liver report means?
Share your report and images, and a doctor will explain what the spot most likely is and whether the next step makes sense. One helpline serves every CION centre.