Liver cysts are usually true cysts. These are of different etiologies. The most common are simple cysts. These are usually small, and can be multiple. In certain uncommon instances, a cyst can grow to become large enough to cause pressure on adjacent organs or cause pain. In these circumstances it needs drainage, unroofing and removing as much of the cyst wall as possible to decrease its recurrence. This procedure can be done laparoscopically.
Other infected cysts like amebic cysts or abscesses can be treated with the proper antibiotics unless not responding or increasing in size. If so, drainage with a needle or a drain (percutaneous drainage) can be done through CT scan or Ultrasound.
A common cyst in the Middle East and Asia is the Hydatid cyst. It is due to parasite called “Echinococcus Granulosus”, or “Echinococcus Multilocularis”. It most commonly affect the liver, but can affect any other part of the abdomen. The risk in such cysts is that if neglected, they can grow larger and rupture releasing multiple daughter parasites to form multiple cysts inside the abdomen and possibly causing a severe allergic reaction, that if not treated immediately can causes suffocation and death. These cysts can only be treated surgically. For so long, minimally invasive methods were not approached due to fear of lack of control if they rupture. But with great experience, laparoscopic management of such cysts is done at GBMC and Jordan Hospital.