Multiple small cysts in the liver

Many people have misunderstandings about cysts, thinking that cysts are tumors. In fact, cysts and tumors are essentially different. Cysts are generally benign, a mass inside the body with liquid inside. Tumors are divided into two types: malignant and benign. Malignant ones can be life-threatening. It is common for cysts to grow in the liver. Multiple small cysts in the liver do not have much impact on the body. If you are worried, you can go to the hospital for treatment.

Multiple hepatic cysts are benign lesions that are often associated with cysts in other organs, such as polycystic kidney disease. Cysts are usually congenital and mostly present in a single or multiple state. The cyst boundaries are relatively clear and are not easy to find in the fluid storage sac. They will be discovered during physical examination. This phenomenon can be distributed in each lobe segment and can only be confined to the liver and gallbladder.

The composition of the fluid in the cyst varies with the cyst type, size, and presence or absence of complications. The cystic fluid of polycystic liver is clear. If there is bleeding in the cyst, the cystic fluid will be brown or red. If there is infection, the cystic fluid may be purulent.

1. Clinical manifestations

Patients usually develop clinical symptoms after the age of 40 to 50, which are related to the size of the cyst. They are mainly gastrointestinal symptoms such as indigestion, loss of appetite, belching, nausea, vomiting and right upper abdominal pain, but the degree is not severe. Chills and fever may occur after secondary infection. Rarely, huge cysts may compress the common bile duct or hepatic duct and cause jaundice. There may be no positive physical signs, and some patients may feel an abdominal mass.

2. Inspection

B-ultrasound examination showed multiple dark areas of fluid in the liver area. Radionuclide scanning helps differentiate solid tumors from hemangiomas. Multiple hepatic cysts are normal liver function tests.

Treatment

1. Hepatic cyst resection

It was the main surgical method for treating liver cysts in the past. However, due to the long incision, large trauma, slow recovery, and other common complications of open surgery, it is rarely used alone now and is only used when other lesions need to be treated at the same time.

2. Anhydrous alcohol treatment

Ultrasound-guided anhydrous alcohol treatment of liver cysts mainly involves soaking the cyst wall in alcohol to cause the epithelial cells to dehydrate, deform, and necrotize, and lose their secretory function. The cyst wall then shrinks and adheres, and eventually the cyst disappears. Although this method of treating liver cysts is less invasive, the treatment is not thorough and requires repeated punctures and fluid extractions. It is prone to recurrence and infection, and is only suitable for elderly patients with weak constitutions and patients with other important organ diseases.

3. Minimally invasive surgery

That is, laparoscopic liver cyst fenestration and drainage, which is currently the best method for external treatment of liver cysts. It is a new technology with the characteristics of less trauma, less pain and quick recovery. The treatment for this type of liver cyst is to use minimally invasive instruments, laparoscopy, intraperitoneal lighting and electronic camera system to complete liver cyst fenestration and drainage in the body.