How is a belly cyst formed? Is it serious?

Liver cysts are a relatively common form of cysts, and most liver cysts are caused by congenital reasons. There are also retention liver cysts, non-parasitic liver cysts, etc. Liver cysts generally have no autonomous symptoms, but some cysts grow relatively fast and are more harmful to patients. They often lead to serious complications, causing jaundice, splenomegaly, portal hypertension, etc.

What are the common causes of liver cysts?

Liver cysts can be generally divided into non-parasitic and parasitic cysts, and chromosomal dominant hereditary polycystic kidney disease.

Non-parasitic liver cysts generally have no obvious symptoms and are most likely discovered during a physical examination. Liver cysts are generally benign, single or multiple, and may be connected to the gallbladder or blocked.

Retention hepatic cyst: It is caused by increased secretion of a bile duct in the liver due to inflammation, edema, scar or stone obstruction, or caused by bile retention. It is usually single, but can also be in the late stage due to blunt trauma to the liver, leading to central rupture. The lesion cyst is filled with blood or bile, and the capsule is fibrous tissue. It is a single pseudocyst.

Congenital liver cyst: due to developmental disorders of the intrahepatic bile duct and lymphatic vessels during the embryo, or cholangitis during the fetal period, the small intrahepatic bile ducts are blocked, the proximal ends are cystic, the intrahepatic bile ducts are degenerated, and local hyperplasia and obstruction occur. They are usually multiple.

What are the complications of liver cysts?

1. Cyst infection

Cyst infection is a rare complication of polycystic liver disease. Recent abdominal surgery, renal transplantation, and chronic inflammation are risk factors. Clinical manifestations include fever, right upper abdominal pain, accelerated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and leukocytosis. Nearly 50% of patients have elevated serum alkaline phosphatase, but fewer have elevated bilirubin and aspartate aminotransferase, and the vast majority are mainly infected with Escherichia coli. CT scans reveal bubble formation in the cyst, suggesting infection. However, if there is a recent history of cyst puncture or the bile duct containing gas is connected, but gas is also seen on CT scan, cyst puncture and fluid aspiration is beneficial for diagnosis, and treatment is mainly cyst fluid drainage plus antibiotics.

2. Other complications

Polycystic liver disease may be complicated by obstruction of hepatic venous outflow and obstructive jaundice. Some patients are accompanied by congenital fibrosis. The age of onset ranges from birth to 24 years old, and is often accompanied by splenomegaly and portal hypertension. Cholangiocarcinoma is more difficult to diagnose, and clinical manifestations include fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, hepatomegaly, right upper abdominal pain, obstructive jaundice and deep venous blood formation. Laboratory tests showed temporary elevation of alkaline phosphatase, RGT, bilirubin and aspartate transferase. The prognosis was very poor, and most patients died within 6 months after discovery.