What is the best treatment for liver cysts

The best treatment for liver cysts actually depends on the size of the cyst and whether there are any complications. If the cyst ruptures, surgical treatment is necessary to rule out the possibility of malignancy.

1. The treatment of liver cysts should depend on their size, nature and the presence or absence of complications. For those with a diameter of 5 cm and compression symptoms, puncture and fluid extraction can be performed under ultrasound guidance to relieve compression symptoms. However, the cyst will grow again soon after the fluid is drained, and repeated drainage is required. This method is easy to operate and does not require laparotomy. It is still a feasible treatment method for patients with giant liver cysts who cannot tolerate surgery. When the cyst is infected, external drainage is recommended.

2. When complications occur such as cyst rupture, cyst pedicle torsion, intracystic bleeding, or a large cyst that compresses adjacent organs and affects eating, surgical treatment is required. The cyst should be removed as completely as possible during surgical treatment. If this is not possible, subtotal removal or at least 1/3 of the cyst wall should be performed to allow the cyst fluid to drain into the abdominal cavity. If bile enters the cyst cavity, the latter surgery is not applicable and cyst-jejunostomy can be performed. During the operation, angiography should be performed to determine whether there is any communication. If the cyst is multi-locular, its partitions should be removed as much as possible before drainage. Pathological examination of the cyst wall should be careful to exclude malignant changes.

3. Symptoms

1. Gastrointestinal symptoms

When the cyst enlarges and presses on the stomach, duodenum, and colon, it can cause symptoms such as fullness after meals, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting.

2. Abdominal pain

Large, heavy cysts may cause distending discomfort, dull pain, or mild, dull ache in the upper abdomen. Sudden onset of severe pain or symptoms and signs of peritonitis may indicate complications such as cyst bleeding or rupture, and may also cause chills and fever.

3. Abdominal mass

The discovery of an abdominal mass is the primary initial presentation in many patients.

4. Jaundice

Cysts near the porta hepatis that compress the hepatic duct or common bile duct can cause mild jaundice, which occurs less frequently, in only about 5% of cases.