Liver cysts

[phoenixg]

Dr. discovered 3 small liver cysts in 2000. Was told not to worry. April 2009 began having nausea, vomiting, bloating and shortness of breath. CT reveal 11 cysts, the largest being 14.0 cm. Had liver fenestration on 5 cysts three wks ago. Surgery was a success and symptoms are gone. Biopsy revealed cysts to be benign simple cysts. Will have CT scan once a yr to watch the remaining 6 cysts for growth. Would like to know the difference between having multiple simple liver cysts and having polycystic liver disease?


This discussion is related to Drinking Liver Question - Pulsating sensation under rib cage?.

[norile]

Agree with most of what you say however,  I was under the impression that PLD was fairly uncommon (I have never yet met a GP who had a similar patient)  having  too many liver cysts to count and three of which were over 8 ctms., aspiration  (producing  1/3 litre of cystic fluid ) was a big help since the large one's were pressing on other organs.  They are simple cysts because they are non cancerous but that does not mean you might be pain free my experience is that I can have ruptured small cysts which cause pain and unwellness for around nine days  however when a large one ruptured I required hospitalisation.  They also can be bled into and this too can be very painful (it was when  this happened to me I was diagnosed with PLD) I also have  to a lesser extent PKD.  I was led to believe that it was unlikely that those with PKD would also have PLD but  those with PLD might often have PKD., would love to know if I have got it wrong since I was diagnosed twelve years ago and this has always been my understanding.
I have a few contacts who have required liver transplants but I think they were severe cases.   Would not wish to scare anyone but if you have been diagnosed with this illness and it is causing you pain or concern, you should ask your GP to refer you to a specialist

[SassyLassie]

Liver Cysts: Liver cysts are very common and are often found incidentally on an ultrasound or CAT scan done for other reasons. Most cysts cause no problems. The larger the cyst, however, the more likely an individual may have symptoms such as abdominal pain or nausea. Very large cysts also may be more likely to rupture. Other than benign cysts, sometimes cysts in the liver are a result of an infection or cancer. Most cysts do not need to be treated because most cysts are benign. For larger cysts, however (>4cm), it's often recommended to obtain a follow-up ultrasound to make sure it's not growing larger in size.

Polycystic Liver: Polycystic liver disease is an inherited disorder characterized by many cysts of various sizes scattered throughout the liver. Abdominal discomfort from swelling of the liver may occur; however, most affected individuals do not have any symptoms. In some cases, polycystic liver disease appears to occur randomly, with no apparent cause (sporadically). Most cases are inherited as an autosomal dominant genetic trait. Sometimes, cysts are found in the liver in association with the presence of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (AD-PKD). In fact, about half of the people who have AD-PKD experience liver cysts. However, kidney cysts are uncommon in those affected by polycystic liver disease.