Table Of Contents
- What are Liver Cysts?
- What are the causes of Liver Cysts?
- What are the signs and symptoms of Liver Cysts?
- How are Liver Cysts diagnosed?
- How is Liver Cyst treated?
- Summary
What are Liver Cysts?
Liver cysts are abnormal sacs that may hold liquid or a hard mass of cells. Most of the time, liver cysts do not cause signs and symptoms or even need treatment. However, you may feel pain or other symptoms if the cysts become large enough. In such cases, it is necessary that you immediately seek medical attention.
What are the causes of Liver Cysts?
Cysts in the liver are usually genetic. They might have formed while you were still growing in the womb.
Liver cysts can develop at any time in your life for causes that scientists have yet to identify.
Echinococcus tapeworm infection can potentially cause liver cysts. These parasites are often found in farm animals such as dogs, wolves, and coyotes. If you are exposed to the excrement of these animals, you could become infected with Echinococcus.
Hydatid disease, cystic hydatid disease, and echinococcosis are all terms for Echinococcus infection. Cysts can form in the lungs, kidneys, brain, and other organs throughout the body due to this condition.
Another condition resulting in liver cysts is a polycystic liver disease (PLD). PLD is a rare genetic disorder that affects just a few people in the world.
People with PLD have many cysts throughout their lives, yet the disease often goes unnoticed. Polycystic renal disease affects many people with PLD.
Liver cancer and liver damage are two other causes of liver cysts.
What are the signs and symptoms of Liver Cysts?
Only about 5–10% of liver cysts trigger symptoms. People aged over 60 are more likely to have these symptoms.
Here are some of the following signs and symptoms of liver cysts:
- Enlarged or protruding belly
- Pain in the abdominal area
- Heartburn
- Nausea and vomiting
- Feeling of abdominal heaviness or bloating
- Shoulder pain
These symptoms usually appear when a cyst begins to bleed.
How are Liver Cysts diagnosed?
As liver cysts do not trigger any symptoms, people only get to know about them after an imaging test. If you don’t have any signs that show that you have a liver cyst, the doctor may do an imaging test such as MRI, Ultrasound, or CT scan.
He may also advise you to take a blood test to check if you have an Echinococcus infection.
How is Liver Cyst treated?
If you are detected with a liver cyst, the doctor may drain the liver cyst by inserting a small needle through the belly. But, this is a temporary fix because the chances are that the fluid might return over time.
Surgical excision of liver cysts is the most effective treatment. Laparoscopic surgery, which requires only two or three small incisions in the stomach, is performed to remove the cyst. Once removed, cysts are unlikely to reappear.
Summary
Liver cysts are rare, and there is only a small chance they cause any symptoms. However, if they are large, they can cause abdominal pain, swelling, and other symptoms. A doctor may prescribe surgery to remove a liver cyst if it creates issues.
