Liver cysts are usually tiny, oval or round sacs containing cellular fluid and surrounded by a very thin wall. They are diagnosed by ultrasounds or CT scans. According to 2010 information from the Cleveland Clinic, it is estimated that about 5 percent of the U.S. population have liver cysts. The symptoms of cysts can vary greatly from patient to patient. Simple cysts are believed to arise from isolated aberrant biliary ducts and produce no symptoms, notes the British Liver Trust. However, larger cysts may cause problems such as swelling and abdominal pain.
Surgery
Surgical treatment of liver cysts involves excision of the cyst wall. Surgery can usually be done as a laparoscopy, which requires only 2 to 3 small incisions. During the procedure, a laparoscope, which is a lighted tube, is inserted through one of the incisions and a tiny video camera is passed through the tube, allowing the doctor to examine the inside of the abdomen.
Drainage
To reduce the size of a liver cyst, a doctor can drain fluid into the peritoneal cavity. The procedure for withdrawing fluid involves inserting a thin needle through the skin, advancing it to the proper site using imaging guidance, such as an X-ray, and then aspirating the fluid. Often, a cyst can refill with fluid. According to the British Liver Trust, in an attempt to prevent this, the doctor can inject the cyst with a substance called a sclerosant, which can help the walls of the cyst stick together. Another technique called laparoscopic de-roofing involves removing part of the wall of the cyst.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are used in cases when a liver cyst is associated with bacterial infection. Antibiotics work by blocking the production of the toxic compounds by the bacteria. In patients with a severe type of infection, antibiotic therapy begins with high doses of antibiotics, such as flucloxacillin. Patients may need to take antibiotics for several weeks to kill the infection.
