Liver Cysts

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Definition

 

Simple hepatic cyst is a biliary malformation, which does not have communication with the intra-hepatic        biliary tree with a 5% incidence in adult population

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Management

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• Asymptomatic simple liver cysts, even when large, do not require treatment or surveillance

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• Symptomatic liver cysts require treatment (pain/spontaneous bleed events/biliary obstruction)

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• Prior to treatment hydatid cyst should be ruled out in all cases before the operation by serology

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• Patients should have a pre-operative CT

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• Patients should be discussed at an upper GI MDT

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• Any features to suggest a diagnosis other than simple liver cyst disease should by referred to a resectional liver centre

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• Laparoscopy de-roofing should be considered as the primary treatment of choice

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• Due to high recurrence rates, management by aspiration followed by sclerotherapy should be reserved for those patients who are not eligible for surgery and general anaesthesia

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Key Performance Indicators  

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• Mortality < 0.1%

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• Morbidity <15%

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• Recurrence rates <10 %

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