hepatic cyst

Epidemiology

• among the most common incidental findings on abdominal imaging

Pathology

• the majority of hepatic cysts are benign

Clinical manifestations

• generally asymptomatic
• symptoms should raise suspicion for biliary cystadenoma

Laboratory

• cystic fluid analysis
  • cystic fluid CA19-9
  • cystic fluid carcinoembryonic antigen
  • not helpful in distinguishing simple haptic cyst from biliary cystadenoma

Diagnostic procedures

• abdominal ultrasound
  • septation, & wall irregularities raise suspicion of biliary cystadenoma or biliary cystadenocarcinoma

Differential diagnosis

• biliary cystadenoma (premalignant)
  • more common in women, cysts with a septum & cysts with septal thickening
• biliary cystadenocarcinoma

Management

• observation
• asymptomatic hepatic cysts do not require follow-up
• surgical excision if suspicion of biliary cystadenoma or biliary cystadenocarcinoma

More general terms

• cyst
• liver disease

Additional terms

• hepatic abscess
• hepatoma