Liver Cysts

Overview

Liver cysts are abnormal sacs on the liver.

Facts at-a-Glance

• The cause of simple Liver Cysts is not known, but they may result from a malformation present at birth.
• Liver Cysts occur in approximately 5% of the population.
• Most liver cysts are found incidentally when imaging of the liver is done for other reasons.

Symptoms and Causes

What are the causes of liver cysts?

Liver cysts causes are unknown. Liver cysts can be present at birth or can develop at a later time. They usually grow slowly and are not detected until adulthood. Some can have cysts in other organs (kidney and/or pancreas). If polycystic liver disease is present, careful monitoring may be needed.

Some cysts are caused by a parasite, echinococcus that is found in sheep in different parts of the world.

What are the symptoms of liver cysts?

Most liver cysts do not cause any symptoms. However, if cysts become large, they can cause bloating, nausea and pain in the upper right part of your abdomen. Sometimes, liver cysts become large enough that you can feel them through your abdomen.

Diagnosis and Tests

How are liver cysts diagnosed?

Since most liver cysts do not cause any symptoms, they usually are detected only on ultrasounds or computerized tomography (CT) scans. If symptoms do occur, a doctor may perform an abdominal CT scan to look at the liver.

A blood test will rule out a parasite as the cause of the liver cyst.

Management and Treatment

How are liver cysts treated?

Most liver cysts do not require any intervention. In the absence of symptoms, simple cysts do not require any follow-up imaging. If symptomatic, other causes for the symptoms, such as gallstones, gastroesophageal reflux, gastric dysmotility, or peptic ulcers, should be considered. If the cysts are large and causing symptoms, they can be drained and injected with a sclerosing agent to lessen the chance for recurrence, surgically deroofed to allow the fluid to be reabsorbed, and drained internally. The choice will depend on local expertise and patient preference. If the cyst has malignant potential (mucinous cystic neoplasm associated with carcinoma), it may require surgical resection.

Prevention

Since most liver cysts are congenital, meaning they are present from birth, there is no way to prevent their development.

Outlook/Prognosis

Benign (noncancerous) cysts cause no problems. A physician may want to monitor them over time with periodic CT scans or ultrasounds to look for any growth or change.

If liver cysts have been surgically or medically removed, they rarely return, so no further attention would be needed.

Living With

No special attention is needed other than periodic imaging tests. For overall liver health, eating a healthy and nutritious diet, exercise, and being careful with medications and supplements that may harm the liver is recommended. It is also recommended to be vaccinated against hepatitis A and B.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

• How do I know whether my cyst is benign or cancerous?
• Have you seen many other patients with this particular condition?
• Will I need to have a liver biopsy performed?
• What kinds of scans are needed?
• Can a cyst be removed if it is causing me discomfort?
• If my cysts need to be removed, is there a specific specialist that I should be referred to?
• Will my cyst be monitored to check on its size and location over a period of time?
• If I have liver cysts, should I get other kinds of testing to check for cysts anywhere else in my body?

What is polycystic liver disease?

• Polycystic liver disease (PLD) is the development of multiple cysts in the liver. PLD cysts may cause pain, but they usually do not affect liver function. If PLD starts affecting liver function or becomes too painful, surgery may be needed. However, cysts can reoccur after surgery.
• People with PLD are born with it, but usually do not have large cysts until they are adults. Polycystic liver disease is genetic. When it is found in one family member, all family members should be tested. PLD may be detected using an ultrasound or CT scan. It is more common in women than men.
• Most people with PLD also have polycystic kidney disease (PKD), which are cysts in the kidneys that can cause high blood pressure and kidney failure. Sometimes a liver transplant and a kidney transplant may be necessary.

Search for a Clinical Trial

Clinical trials are research studies that test how well new medical approaches work in people. Before an experimental treatment can be tested on human subjects in a clinical trial, it must have shown benefit in laboratory testing or animal research studies. The most promising treatments are then moved into clinical trials, with the goal of identifying new ways to safely and effectively prevent, screen for, diagnose, or treat a disease.

Speak with your doctor about the ongoing progress and results of these trials to get the most up-to­ date information on new treatments. Participating in a clinical trial is a great way to contribute to curing, preventing and treating liver disease and its complications.

Start your search here to find clinical trials that need people like you.

Medically reviewed in April 2025

Last updated on June 11th, 2025 at 02:14 pm