Simple liver cysts, thin-walled sacs filled with fluid, are quite common and generally cause no problems. The most common symptom of liver cysts is an uncomfortable feeling of fullness in the abdomen. Liver cysts can fill with blood and cause severe upper right abdominal pain. The bleeding usually stops on its own and the pain subsides within a few days. Treatment for a liver cyst involves the laparoscopic removal of a portion of the cyst wall. Recovery time from this minimally invasive surgery to remove liver cysts is short. Once removed, liver cysts rarely recur.
Unlike simple cysts, cystic liver tumors are growths in the liver that may develop into liver cancer. Symptoms of cystic tumors are similar to those of simple cysts: abdominal fullness and discomfort. Because cystic tumors carry the risk of turning malignant, they must be completely removed through surgery. The recurrence rate of a liver cyst is very low.
