Will liver cyst develop into liver cancer?

Male, 39 years old, was not in good health some time ago. He was diagnosed with liver cysts in the hospital. The doctor said that he did not need treatment. I want to know whether liver cysts will develop into liver cancer?

Liver cysts are actually small blisters on the liver. They generally do not cause discomfort to the human body, nor do they affect liver function, let alone develop into liver cancer. However, clinically, liver cysts and liver cancer are also common. Therefore, after discovering liver cysts, blood alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) should also be tested, and B-ultrasound or CT scans should be performed to rule out liver cancer.

The following points can be used to differentiate liver cysts from liver cancer:

1. Cause

Most liver cysts are caused by abnormal development of small bile ducts in the liver; while the incidence of liver cancer is often related to multiple factors such as chronic liver disease (especially hepatitis B), environmental pollution, diet and genetics.

2. Crowd characteristics

Liver cysts are mostly congenital, with no significant difference in incidence between men and women, and can occur at any age; whereas the incidence of liver cancer is higher in men than in women, and is mostly found in middle-aged and elderly people.

3. Different symptoms

Only when the liver cyst grows to a certain size or when the cyst compresses the adjacent organs will symptoms such as discomfort or dull pain in the right upper abdomen, fullness after eating, and fever appear. Otherwise, there are generally no symptoms. Liver cancer patients often have symptoms such as pain in the liver area, black stools, jaundice, ascites, internal bleeding, etc.

4. Different signs

Liver cysts generally have no obvious signs. Larger ones may be felt as painless cystic masses and liver enlargement in the liver area. Liver cancer may be felt as hard lumps in the liver area and may also have some signs of cirrhosis.

5. Imaging manifestations

Liver cysts appear as fluid-filled masses, whereas liver cancer often appears as solid masses.

6. Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) test

The results of liver cyst examination were negative; while the positive rate of blood AFP test for liver cancer was about 70%.