Liver cancer. Coloured scintigram of a malignant (cancerous) tumour (red, upper left) in a liver. Liver cancer is most commonly associated with hepatitis, usually occurring between 20-50 years after the initial injury. Although, if caught early, tumours may be surgically removed, generally the prognosis for liver cancer is poor and once contracted life expectancy is short. A scintigram uses a radioactive tracer that accumulates in tumours. A gamma camera detects gamma rays emitted by the tracer.