The management of large congenital liver cysts

Abstract

SummaryCongenital solitary cysts of the liver seldom exceed 10 cm in diameter. Four such cases were seen over a 5-year period in a city with a catchment population of about 800,000. One of these cysts was asymptomatic, but the others were complicated by intracystic haemorrhage, probable perforation and cyst-enteric fistula. Pre-operative liver scans and findings at laparotomy indicated a different treatment in each case--observation, aspiration, enucleation and drainage.

Laparoscopic treatment of nonparasitic cysts of the liver with omental transposition flap

“…They include abdominal pain and a feeling of fullness, or of pressure within the abdomen, or of early satiety. Complications such as intracystic hemorrhage, rupture, cholestasis, compression of the vena cava, and even portal hypertension are extremely rare [12,15,17]. Even in large cysts surgical intervention is only necessary in patients who are symptomatic or in those patients with a rapidly increasing cyst volume.…”

Massive congenital solitary nonparasitic cyst of the liver in infancy.

“…Nuclear medicine liver-spleen scans will show a defect if the lesion is intrahepatic. 10 Angiography will demonstrate an avascular mass whose feeding vessels are related to the liver; however, this modality would not be utilized unless a mass had already been demonstrated.…”

“…11 Similarly, on computed tomographic examination these are low density masses with well-defined borders. 10 If the mass is totally or partially intrahepatic, the diagnosis of hepatic cyst by sonography or computed tomography is straightforward. The problem arises when the cyst is pedunculated and the area of attachment to the liver cannot be identified.…”

Solitary Septated Simple Liver Cyst in a Newborn Infant

“…Simple liver cyst (SLC) is a rare nonparasitic cyst of congenital origin thought to derive from aberrant bile ducts, microhamartomas, or peribiliary glands isolated from bile ducts. 1 , 2 They are categorized as solitary or multiple; the latter is associated with polycystic kidney disease and Caroli's disease. 3 - 5 There are fewer than 10 reported solitary cystic cases described in fetuses.…”