Removal Of Liver Cysts
Malignancy And Removal Of Liver Cysts - Since we don't usually know how a cyst comes about, we don't have any idea as to how to prevent them. Given the nature of the cyst, that is really not an issue. Sometimes however, liver cysts can cause problems, and may need to be removed. Also if a cyst is large or tends to be growing, a biopsy if often called for so determine whether any malignancy is present. Malignant liver cysts are uncommon, in fact cancer of the liver is a seldom occurrence in the United States, but it can happen. It should be noted that liver cysts and liver tumors are not exactly one and the same thing, and tumors have a greater chance of becoming malignant than to cysts.
In the rare case where a liver cyst becomes malignant, or the slightly more frequent case where it becomes enlarged, a person may experience pain. When this is the case the pain is usually present in the upper part, or the right side, of the abdomen. In some cases the pain could be significant, in other cases the symptom may be that of mild, though chronic, discomfort such as mild pain or a feeling of fullness. Treatment may include drainage of the cyst, although this may only provide short term relief as the cyst may fill with fluid again. Surgical removal is an option though it is seldom necessary to remove the entire cyst, just a portion of the cyst's wall, to prevent it from filling with fluid again. If you have to have this done, it does not require major surgery. The surgery usually involves use of a laparoscope and does not require large incisions. You may spend one night in the hospital, advisable after surgery of this type, and then go home the next day.
Cystic tumors, which can cause symptoms similar to simple liver cysts, will on the other hand, most often be removed completely to prevent spreading of any malignancy. In most cases, removal of a cystic tumor solves the problem permanently. Recurrence of cystic tumors is quite low. There are also several different types of liver cysts besides the simple cyst we've been addressing. Most of these types are well understood only by specialists, and the differences are not generally meaningful to the lay person. Some can be more serious than others, so we'll mention them briefly here. If you do find yourself the proud owner of a cyst though, assume it's a simple cyst, and let the specialists take it from there. They may, or may not explain the difference if it's another type.
There Are Several Types Of Liver Cysts, Most Are Rare - Most liver cysts are singular in nature, but at times, if liver disease is present, multiple cysts, grouped together, may form. These cysts are not usually the cause of the disease but rather a result. Multiple cysts may or may not cause symptoms and may or may not require treatment. Neoplastic cysts are noteworthy primarily for having a strange architecture and are thought to be related to problems in the gall bladder. Neoplastic cysts are quite rare however. More common is the hytadid cyst, which is caused by a parasite. If the eggs of the parasite are ingested, the larvae may grow in the liver and become encysted, similar to being in a cocoon. These cysts most often cause no symptoms but can sometimes become infected and at times rupture or cause an abscess, and if so must be treated, preferably before the rupture tales place. Hyadid cysts can often be successfully treated by drainage and antibiotics.
Doctors may be reluctant to treat cysts at times unless the symptoms are severe. At times the treatment can place a patient at greater risk than dong nothing would. Cysts cannot normally be reduced in size, or at least attempts to do so rarely succeed. In addition, when cysts are drained, particularly if they are infected, there is a risk of spreading infection and the creation of an abscess, a much more serious problem.
If some of this information is a little scary, remember what was stated at the outset. Most cysts go unnoticed and cause no problems. If they are large enough to cause discomfort or pain, or interfere with the functioning of the liver, surgical treatment is generally straightforward and not major. In addition, liver cysts rarely become malignant. Even cystic tumors, which have a greater chance of becoming malignant, rarely do. Liver of the cancer is not common at all. You probably don't have a liver cyst to call your own anyway, and if you do it was probably discovered more or less by accident. If you were to make a list of all the people who ever died from livers cysts, it would probably not be a very long list.