Most liver cysts are benign and noncancerous, forming fluid-filled sacs. While many cause no symptoms, some inherited disorders can lead to clusters of liver cysts requiring treatment. Liver cysts are usually diagnosed through ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI imaging and most often require no treatment. However, large cysts or those causing pain or other issues may be drained, have their walls removed, or be treated through embolization or surgery.

1. Justin V Sebastian

2. • Liver cysts are fluid-filled sacs that appear on liver.
Nearly all liver cysts are benign (noncancerous).
• Few cysts grow large enough to cause symptoms.
• Some liver cysts are caused by an inherited disorder that
may require treatment, though.
• Benign liver cysts, sometimes called simple cysts, are the
most common form of liver cyst.
• About 1% to 5% of all liver cysts are precancerous and
about 30% of those cysts become cancerous.

3. Causes
• Nearly all liver cysts are congenital, meaning they’re present
at birth
• Hydatid disease (hydatid cysts): Hydatid disease is caused
by parasites that pass to humans from dogs and sheep,
usually through water. The parasites develop into cysts on
people’s livers and other areas of their bodies.
• Polycystic liver disease (PLD): This rare inherited disorder
affects about 1 to 10 people in 100,000. People with PLD
develop clusters of benign or simple cysts on their livers.
These cysts may look like clusters of very large grapes.

4. Symptoms
• Dull pain in the upper right area of their bellies.
• Bloated or distended bellies.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Lack of appetite or feeling full after eating very little food.
• Feeling short of breath.
• Being able to feel large lumps in their belly.
• Jaundice. This may happen if liver cysts block bile ducts.
• Fever and acute belly pain. This may happen if a cyst
ruptures.

5. Diagnosis
• Ultrasound. Ultrasounds use high-frequency sound waves to
create real-time pictures and videos of internal organs or other
tissues.
• Computed tomography (CT) scan. CT scans use a series of X-
rays and a computer to create three-dimensional images of soft
tissues and bones.
• Magnetic resonance imaging. (MRI). This painless test uses a
large magnet, radio waves and a computer to produce very clear
images of organs and structures within body.
• Serodiagnostic tests. These tests are used to identify specific
antibodies in blood samples.

6. Treatment
• Percutaneous aspiration. Healthcare providers use ultrasound or CT
imaging to insert needles or catheters into liver cysts and drain the
cysts’ fluid.
• Cyst fenestration. This surgery treats large cysts by removing the
cyst’s wall.
• Hepatic resection. This surgery removes areas of the liver affected by
cysts.
• Transarterial embolization. This treatment works by injecting a
substance to block the artery.
• Surgery. To remove benign or cancerous cysts.
• Liver transplantation. This surgery treats polycystic liver disease that
doesn’t respond to medication and/or surgeries to remove liver cysts.