Background/aims: Benign cystic diseases of the liver have recently been treated by non-surgical procedures; however, uncontrolled symptomatic patients often need surgical treatment. We report here our own experience of 5 patients with cystic liver diseases (CLD).
Methodology: We examined retrospectively the clinicopathological findings and outcome in 5 CLD patients who underwent surgical treatment for 12 years.
Results: All patients complained of symptoms and the mean period of symptoms was 3.8 years. Two patients had perforation of cystic content. Three patients had multiple cysts in both lobes and 2 showed a solitary cyst. The mean cyst size was 13.2cm. Communication between cyst and bile duct was observed in 1 patient. Liver scintigraphy was good compared to the higher value of ICGR15 in 3 patients. Deroofing was performed in 3 patients including laparoscopic treatment and 2 underwent hemihepatectomy. The mean amount of the cystic fluid was 1560mL. All patients had benign liver cysts by histologic findings. One patient had a biloma after deroofing which was percutaneously drained and cured. Although liver cyst recurred in 2 patients, all patients have survived without severe symptoms.
Conclusions: Surgical radical treatment provides good prognosis in CLD patients with uncontrolled symptoms.