Liver cyst (liver cyst): symptoms, causes, drugs, etc. • hello healthy

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Definition

What is a liver cyst?

Liver cysts or commonly called liver cysts are fluid-filled sacs in the liver. This condition, which affects about 5% of the world's population, causes no symptoms.

In fact, liver cysts are often discovered incidentally during abdominal imaging tests, such as a CT scan or MRI. Generally, one or more liver cysts do not cause any problems, aka they are benign.

Even so, the large number of cysts with a large size certainly requires medical attention because they can cause pain, especially in the stomach. If the discomfort that appears does not improve, you should consult a doctor.

Liver cysts are divided into several types, including:

• simple cyst,
• polycystic liver disease (run in families),
• cysts caused by parasites, such as hydatid disease, and
• cysts that appear with liver cancer.

How common is this condition?

Liver cyst disease can happen to anyone, regardless of age and sex. However, this non-communicable cyst disease is most commonly found in women and the risk increases with age.

However, this disruption in liver function can be overcome by reducing the trigger factor. Talk to your doctor for more information.

Symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of a liver cyst?

Most cases of liver cysts are asymptomatic. Even so, it is possible that there are several symptoms that are quite disturbing when the liver cyst enlarges, namely:

• feeling bloated, painful, or uncomfortable in the upper abdomen,
• nausea or vomiting, and
• ulcer.

In rare cases, patients also complain of shoulder pain that comes on suddenly and feels severe. Experts think this is caused by bleeding into the cyst.

When to see a doctor for this condition?

Generally, a small number of liver cysts do not require medical treatment because they do not cause any symptoms.

However, when you feel the signs and symptoms that have been mentioned, it's best to consult a doctor.

It's important to remember that everyone's body reacts differently. It would be nice to consult a doctor to find out the causes and treatment.

Causes and triggers

What are the causes of liver cysts?

Until now, it is not known what the exact cause of hepatic cysts is. However, cysts usually appear when a small area of ​​liver cells dies or is damaged. Damage to liver cells is generally caused by several things, such as:

• growth of a cyst over the years,
• unhealthy diet and lifestyle, and
• fatty liver (fatty liver).

Meanwhile, cysts can also contain fluid or mucus, but this does not indicate that you have liver disease. The reason is, the liver has many other areas that are equipped with healthy cells, so that it continues to function normally.

In some cases, liver cysts can also arise due to several things, namely:

• cysts are passed down from the family,
• congenital, and
• parasite echinococcus found in sheep.

What makes a person more at risk of developing liver cysts?

Here are some factors that can increase a person's risk of developing liver cysts.

Gender

Liver cysts are more common in women than men, but the difference is not much different. The female to male ratio is 1.5: 1.

With age, the likelihood of it occurring in women increases more than men.

Certain health conditions

Fibrosis and cirrhosis caused by liver disease, such as hepatitis, are not risk factors for simple cysts or polycystic disease.

Congenital liver fibrosis is usually associated with cysts and resembles cirrhosis from a viral disease. Even so, generally cirrhosis of the liver does not increase the risk of cyst growth.

Diagnosis and treatment

How to diagnose this condition?

Liver cysts are most often diagnosed using imaging tests, such as:

• CT scan,
• Ultrasound, or
• MRI.

In fact, most cases report that liver cysts are often detected incidentally. The doctor will also perform a physical examination of the abdomen to feel for any lumps of cysts.

If the cyst is caused by bacteria, this type of cyst will be checked through a blood test. This aims to detect antibodies Echinococcus , the bacteria that causes cysts, in the blood.

What are the ways to treat liver cysts?

Generally, most liver cysts don't need to be treated. However, a large cyst with a large number is usually painful, requiring medical attention.

There are several types of treatment for liver cysts, including:

Operation

Cysts that cause symptoms, aka symptomatic, will become enlarged or malignant, and must be removed through a surgical procedure. Removal of partially to the whole wall of the cyst in the liver is the best way to treat the cyst.

This is especially true in cases of cystadenoma and cystadenocarcinoma. The process of removing cysts is done by laparoscopy, which is a surgical procedure that does not require large or multiple incisions.

This surgical procedure uses a special surgical instrument that is inserted through a tube that is inserted into the stomach.

Drug therapy

When the cyst is caused by a parasite Echinococcosis Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to fight the infection. This antibiotic drug will also be combined with surgery and chemotherapy which lasts for two years to relieve symptoms.

Always discuss with your doctor about medication that is suitable for your condition.

What about the treatment of cysts in polycystic liver disease?

Polycystic liver disease (PLD) is the appearance of multiple cysts in the liver. These polycystic cysts can usually cause pain without affecting liver function.

If PLD affects liver function or triggers severe pain, you may need a medical procedure. Even so, cysts can reappear after surgery.

Patients with polycystic liver disease are born with this disease. However, cysts normally won't grow until they are adults. Cysts that occur due to PLD are genetic, namely diseases that occur from generation to generation from members of the biological family.

Most PLD sufferers also experience polycystic kidney disease (PKD). Both can cause high blood pressure and kidney failure. That is why, polycystic liver cyst patients sometimes need liver and kidney transplants.

Home remedies

What can be done at home to treat liver cysts?

If your doctor detects one or more cysts in your liver (simple cysts), there's no need to worry. You can reduce the risk of cysts multiplying and enlarging by eating a healthy diet.

Diet is one of the factors that trigger damage to cells in the liver. By changing your diet to be healthier, you may be able to avoid the risk of multiple cysts.

A healthy diet to reduce the risk of developing cysts includes:

• limit dairy products because they can increase the growth of cysts and mucus,
• reduce to stop alcohol consumption to maintain liver health,
• avoid consumption of foods with high sugar and salt,
• taking selenium supplements to produce the antioxidant glutathione, and
• consume raw vegetable juices, such as kale, turnips, and carrots.

During a healthy diet, you are also advised to minimize your exposure to substances that can damage liver function, such as drugs and environmental chemicals.

If you have further questions, please consult with your doctor to find the right solution.