Physical Examination There are no findings specific only to liver cancer on physical examination. Findings may include the following, all of which may have other explanations: • Fever. • Enlarged liver and spleen . • Enlarged, hard lymph nodes . • Swelling of the abdomen from fluid (ascites). • Jaundice (the skin turning yellow). • Swelling of the legs (edema). Blood and Other Tests • A complete blood count may be normal or may show a decrease (anemia) or increase in red blood cells . • Routine liver function studies—blood tests measuring serum bilirubin and liver enzymes—may be abnormal, but can be entirely normal even in advanced stages of primary liver cancer. • Prothrombin Time and Partial Thromboplastin Time (PT and PTT) tests of clotting—usually done if a liver problem is suspected—may be abnormal.