A liver cyst is a focal cavity formation limited to a capsule with fluid inside. This pathology is manifested by pain discomfort in the right hypochondrium, nausea, dyspeptic syndrome. Therapy most often involves a radical removal of education. This article provides information on the topic: "Liver cyst: causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of pathology."
general information
A liver cyst is a cavity formation of a benign nature, filled with a liquid or a mass of a yellowish-green hue. This pathology can be localized absolutely in any segments of this organ. Its diameter varies from a few millimeters to about 25 centimeters.
Liver cysts are a fairly common disease. According to available information, it can be found in 0.8% of the world's population. In representatives of the stronger sex, such neoplasms are diagnosed less often than in women. The age of patients varies from 30 to approximately 50 years. According to clinical observations, this pathology can accompany liver cirrhosis, cholelithiasis, polycystic ovary.
Cyst on the liver: causes
Currently, there is no consensus on the formation of these neoplasms. This means that the reasons can be very different. Some scientists are inclined to believe that pathology begins its development due to inflammatory hyperplasia of the hepatic biliary tract directly during embryogenesis. Quite often, the relationship between the use of hormonal drugs (for example, oral contraceptives) and the appearance of a neoplasm is analyzed.
Relatively recently, experts talked about another theory that answers the question of why a cyst is formed on the liver. The causes of the pathology lie in the intralobular aberrant bile ducts, which during embryonic development of the body are not directly included in the biliary tract system itself. Such closed cavities, or rather, secreted secretion, lead to sequential accumulation of fluid and their subsequent transition into the cyst. This theory is confirmed by the fact that the secret of education does not contain bile, and its cavity with working bile ducts is not communicated.
In a completely different way, a false cyst on the liver develops. The causes of this pathology are explained by tumor necrosis, amoebic abscess, organ damage.
Clinical picture
Small solitary formations, as a rule, are not accompanied by obvious symptoms. Primary signs appear only when the cyst grows to the size of 7-8 centimeters, as well as with multiple lesions (about 20% of the volume of the hepatic parenchyma).
Patients usually complain of a constant feeling of fullness in the right hypochondrium, which only intensifies after exercise and eating. Against the background of an increase in the cyst, dyspeptic disorders develop: nausea, belching, vomiting, flatulence. Other nonspecific symptoms include weakness, excessive sweating, loss of appetite, and shortness of breath.
A slightly different sign may be accompanied by a giant liver cyst. Symptoms of a cyst, the causes of such a pathology differ from small single formations. It causes an asymmetric increase in the abdomen, sharp weight loss, jaundice.
A complicated course of the disease develops with hemorrhage into the organ wall, suppuration, torsion of the legs, malignant transformation. In the event of a rupture of the neoplasm or a breakthrough of its contents into the adjacent organs, patients develop an attack of abdominal pain. In this kind of situation, the likelihood of bleeding in the peritoneal cavity increases.
Classification
Specialists distinguish two forms of liver cysts: true and false. The first option is congenital in origin and is distinguished by an internal epithelial lining. An acquired character is most often a false cyst on the liver. The causes of the occurrence can be explained by surgery, inflammation, mechanical damage. In the role of the walls of the cavity are fibrously altered organ tissues.
Based on the number of cavities, single and multiple formations are distinguished.
Establishing diagnosis
If the above symptoms appear, it is recommended to seek medical advice immediately. A pathology such as a liver cyst should not be ignored. Treatment and the causes of education can only be determined by a doctor. If you neglect this problem, the likelihood of developing quite dangerous complications increases.
As a rule, such a pathology is detected by chance during an ultrasound scan. It is defined as a round-bounded circular cavity with anechoic contents.
Mandatory is the differential diagnosis with tumors, hemangioma, dropsy of the gallbladder. For these purposes, the patient is prescribed CT, MRI, scintigraphy and angiography of the celiac trunk. All of the above measures confirm the diagnosis of liver cyst.
Effective treatment
Symptoms and causes of the pathology largely determine the further tactics of treatment. If we are talking about a small neoplasm, surgery is not always required. Such patients, as a rule, the doctor offers constant monitoring of the development of pathology through ultrasound.
If the diameter of the cyst is 5 cm or more, and its occurrence is accompanied by jaundice, surgery is indicated. Currently, two truly effective approaches to combat this problem are highlighted:
- Conditionally radical. In this case, the surgeon removes the cyst, and the healthy organ tissue remains intact.
- The second option involves excising the formation so that it is possible to drain the area of the cavity of the cyst. Often, a similar operation is prescribed, during which a special needle is inserted through the skin. Through her, the doctor drains the formation under the constant supervision of ultrasound.
If the pathology proceeds with complications, terminal insufficiency begins, immediate liver transplantation is recommended.
Help traditional medicine
In this article we already told what a liver cyst is (causes, symptoms). Alternative treatment can be used as an aid to conservative therapy. It is important to consult a doctor before resorting to alternative medicine recipes .
Herbs from this pathology are recommended to be selected taking into account several factors at the same time (general condition of the patient, the presence of concomitant diseases, etc.). In the absence of serious contraindications, the following phyto-harvests are recognized as the most effective: yarrow, burdock, mullein, bedstraw. A decoction of these herbs promotes the resorption of small cysts. It is advisable to change the “medicine” every two months to avoid getting used to the body.
There are many positive reviews about celandine juice. There are a great many recipes with its use. In some, it is recommended to drink pure undiluted juice, and in others - to make special tinctures. In the first case, it is necessary to squeeze the juice from the plant and let it brew, then you should drain the clean liquid. The approximate scheme for taking the medicine is as follows: one drop of juice is diluted with a teaspoon of water. Every day, the dose of juice should increase by one drop. After 10-15 days, you should take a short break.
Conclusion
In this article we talked as much as possible about what a liver cyst is. The causes and symptoms of liver cysts, the treatment of pathology are serious enough questions that require an exclusively qualified approach. After surgery, the prognosis is generally favorable. All patients, without exception, are encouraged to monitor their body condition and try to lead a healthy lifestyle.