{"id":1458,"date":"2023-04-03T08:43:18","date_gmt":"2023-04-03T08:43:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/?p=1458"},"modified":"2026-02-24T14:04:04","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T14:04:04","slug":"understanding-liver-cysts-causes-symptoms-and-treatment-options","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/understanding-liver-cysts-causes-symptoms-and-treatment-options\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Liver Cysts: Causes and Treatment Options"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Liver cysts can be best described as tiny sacs filled with fluid that develop on the liver. Nearly all of them are noncancerous (benign), without any symptoms. Usually, doctors leave them alone, as they require no treatment, but in some cases, they might need medical attention.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Simple cysts, or benign liver cysts, are the most common form of growth occurring on the liver, with around 15 to 18% of the US population having them. On a global scale, the number of patients with benign liver cysts is between five to ten percent. In this article, <\/span><a href=\"\/omar-rashid\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dr. Omar Rashid<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and his expert team will discuss the most common liver cyst symptoms, the causes, and the possible treatment options.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Liver Cysts: Are They Cancerous?<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Before we get into the details, we should address the most prominent concern on patients&#8217; minds: are these growths cancerous? These benign cysts usually stay noncancerous, with only a small percent of them turning precancerous or cancerous. Generally speaking, around one to five percent of all liver cysts can become precancerous, and only 30% become malignant. Needless to say, these cancerous cysts will be immediately addressed with surgery, and often, surgery is the route experts recommend if patients are experiencing liver cyst symptoms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Types of Liver Cysts<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1460\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/132\/2023\/04\/Types-of-Liver-Cysts.jpg\" alt=\"Doctor and Female Patient Sitting at the Desk and Talking in Clinic Near Window\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/132\/2023\/04\/Types-of-Liver-Cysts-200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/132\/2023\/04\/Types-of-Liver-Cysts-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/132\/2023\/04\/Types-of-Liver-Cysts-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/132\/2023\/04\/Types-of-Liver-Cysts-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/132\/2023\/04\/Types-of-Liver-Cysts-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/132\/2023\/04\/Types-of-Liver-Cysts-800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/132\/2023\/04\/Types-of-Liver-Cysts.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">While more or less all of these growths are benign and stay tiny enough to remain asymptomatic, there are rare cases when liver cysts produce symptoms are cause danger. Also, two distinct types of cystic liver problems will often require surgery or some kind of treatment:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>PLD or Polycystic liver disease:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> This is a rare genetic condition that affects only one to ten people in 100,000. People with polycystic liver disease will often have larger cyst clusters on their livers which may sometimes resemble large grapes. Even then, only around 20% with polycystic liver disease will show symptoms later in adulthood when the larger liver causes distention in the belly area and discomfort. Usually, medical experts address the problem with surgery or medication.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Echinoccal cysts or Hydatid disease:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> This condition is caused by parasites that are typically passed to people from sheep and dogs, most often through the water. Slowly, the parasites grow into cysts on the liver and other bodily areas. Hydatid disease can lead to several problems if left untreated, such as jaundice, eosinophilia, or fever. For the most part, providers address this hydatid disease with medication to kill the parasites and surgery for cyst removal.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Can Benign Liver Cysts\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There are some medical studies that suggest that these cysts may go away on their own without any treatment. Still, you should remember that most of these cysts will remain benign and asymptomatic to cause any problems. And even then, larger cysts can be effectively treated with surgery.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Liver Cyst Symptoms and Causes<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Most of these growths are congenital, which means that patients are born with them, and medical experts aren&#8217;t sure what causes these congenital phenomena.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When it comes to liver cyst symptoms, most experts will agree that both benign and cancerous cysts tend to be asymptomatic. Still, those who do experience any signs will usually have the following problems:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Bloated or distended belly<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lack of appetite\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Feeling full after eating only a little<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dull pain in the belly&#8217;s upper right area<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Shortness of breath<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Jaundice<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Feeling larger lumps in the belly<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Acute belly pain and fever if a cyst ruptures<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Diagnosing Liver Cysts<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For the most part, providers discover and diagnose these cysts via imaging tests for other conditions only by accident. The imaging tests used may include the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>CT scans or computed tomography:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> These scans use X-rays and computing power to recreate three-dimensional representations of the patient&#8217;s bones and soft tissues.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Ultrasound: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This imaging test uses high-frequency soundwaves to create real-time videos or images of the patient&#8217;s tissues and internal organs.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>MRI or magnetic resonance imaging:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> This imaging method uses computing power and radio waves to produce precise images of the patient&#8217;s bodily structures and organs.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When providers establish the presence of liver cysts during these tests, they will also recommend follow-up appointments to ensure that all cysts are benign and none are malignant or precancerous. Also, during these follow-up tests, providers will look for signs of hydatid disease or polycystic liver disease.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">During the follow-up examination, the doctor may perform the following tests:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>A physical examination<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Ask you about your medical history<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. They will ask whether you have a history of chronic liver disease or if there were any other liver problems in your family.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Contrast-enhanced ultrasound <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">sends high-frequency sound waves through the body, recording images and videos of your organs and bodily structures.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Serodiagnostic tests<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> that identify particular antibodies in blood samples.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Liver Cyst Treatment<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As mentioned above, most benign cysts will require no treatment. Still, larger benign growths will most likely be removed, especially if they are causing symptoms or discomfort.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Surgical interventions and other procedures that providers use to remove larger benign cysts, cancerous, precancerous growths, and disease-induced liver cysts are usually the following:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Cyst fenestration,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> which removes the cyst&#8217;s walls, treating larger cysts<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Percutaneous aspiration<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> that uses CT or ultrasound to insert <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Catheter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">catheters<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> or needles into the cysts and drain them<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Surgery <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">to remove cancerous or benign growths<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Hepatic resection,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> which removes the cyst-affected areas of the liver<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>TACE, or transarterial embolization,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> which works by injecting anti-cancer drugs into an artery that carries blood to the liver and then injecting another substance to block that artery; the second substance acts like a dam, keeping the anti-cancer drug in the liver around the malignant tumors<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Liver transplantation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> may also be used in cases of polycystic liver disease that won&#8217;t respond to other surgeries or medications to get rid of liver cysts.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Prevention<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1461\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/132\/2023\/04\/Prevention-6.jpg\" alt=\"Doctor and Patient in Consultation at the Clinic Office.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/132\/2023\/04\/Prevention-6-200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/132\/2023\/04\/Prevention-6-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/132\/2023\/04\/Prevention-6-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/132\/2023\/04\/Prevention-6-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/132\/2023\/04\/Prevention-6-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/132\/2023\/04\/Prevention-6-800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/132\/2023\/04\/Prevention-6.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As mentioned already, most cysts are present already at birth. Also, after establishing a diagnosis, most patients will have little to worry about.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Most benign cysts won&#8217;t even cause symptoms. In these cases, health providers will usually recommend regular follow-up tests to make sure the cysts aren&#8217;t changing or growing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">On the other hand, other patients might need to undergo surgery to remove cancerous or larger benign cysts. Once removed, these growths rarely come back, but your provider will probably schedule a few follow-up appointments to be sure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Explore Your Options<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Most people find out about their liver cysts during testing for other medical reasons. And while learning about unexpected health conditions isn&#8217;t particularly good news, it can be comforting to know that the majority of these cysts are benign and asymptomatic. As such, your provider will only recommend regular monitoring appointments to make sure the growths don&#8217;t change.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">On that end, if you have any more concerns or questions regarding liver cysts, feel free to reach out to Dr. Rashid and his compassionate staff.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Liver cysts can be best described as tiny sacs filled with fluid that develop on the liver. Nearly all of<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1459,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[181],"tags":[184,186,182,183,185],"class_list":["post-1458","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-liver","tag-hydatid-disease","tag-liver-cyst-symptoms","tag-liver-cysts","tag-liver-cysts-treatment","tag-polycystic-liver-disease"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1458","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1458"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1458\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1459"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1458"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1458"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1458"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}