How to Dissolve Liver Cysts: Treatment and Management

The question “how to dissolve liver cysts” isn’t medically precise. The management of liver cysts usually depends whether it is asymptomatic or symptomatic. Asymptomatic cysts are usually monitored without treatment, while symptomatic ones are given more focus in terms of treatment and management. Treatment may include drainage or surgical procedures rather than dissolution.

Key Takeaways

• Most liver cysts are benign and don’t require treatment

• There is no proven method to “dissolve” liver cysts naturally

• Laparoscopic fenestration (deroofing) is the most effective treatment for symptomatic cysts

• Simple needle aspiration has a high risk of recurrence

• Healthy lifestyle choices support liver function but don’t generally dissolve cysts

What Are Liver Cysts and What Causes Them?

Liver cysts are sacs filled with fluid that develop in your liver. Most of these cysts are benign (does not cause cancer) and aren’t harmful. They don’t spread to other parts of the body and tend to localize where they first grow.

What Are the Different Types of Cysts?

There are three different types of cysts, namely:

• Simple Cysts (most common) that grows on their own and don’t generally cause trouble

• Polycystic Liver Disease (PLD) causes many cysts to grow in the liver and it runs in families

• Hydatid Cyst occurs when you are infected with a parasite (rare in the United States but more common in other countries)

How Common Are Liver Cysts?

About 5-10 out of 100 people have liver cyst (5-10%). A lot of these people don’t even know they have them. Liver cysts are usually discovered by accident when doctors request for imaging that is intended for other medical reasons. They are more common in adults, and they occur at a higher percentage in women than in men.

What Causes Liver Cysts?

The cause of liver cysts depends on what type it is. Simple cysts and PLD are usually present since birth but may not be discovered until adulthood.

The cells that should form the bile ducts are not properly connected. So fluids build up in sac-like structures.

Hydatid cysts, on the other hand, happen if you eat foods contaminated with parasite eggs. It could also happen if you pet animals that are infested with them.

What Are the Symptoms of Liver Cysts?

Liver cysts don’t always cause symptoms. Most of them stay silent all throughout. Some simple cysts don’t even grow big enough to cause any concern. You could have a liver cyst right at the moment and still don’t know about it. Healthcare professionals call these cysts “silent” or “asymptomatic.”

What Are Common Symptoms, if Any?

If cysts grow large, they tend to put pressure or irritate surrounding tissues or organs. This results in the feeling of pain or a feeling of fullness in the upper right part of your abdomen.

There are also others who may feel bloated or notice that their abdomen looks bigger.

In rare instances, infected cysts or those that break open (ruptures) may cause fever or make you feel sicker.

A very large cyst can also cause obstruction (blockage) on the bile ducts, which results in yellow discoloration (jaundice) of the skin and whites of the eyes. But this doesn’t usually happen.

When Should You See a Doctor for Liver Cysts?

You should seek medical attention if you have the following symptoms:

• Pain or discomfort at the upper right part of your abdomen that is persistent, steady, or comes and goes

• Fever

• Chills

• Yellow discoloration of skin and whites of eyes

Your doctor will request laboratory tests or imaging. If you test positive for cysts, ask your healthcare provider if you need to see a liver specialist.

How Are Liver Cysts Diagnosed?

Often diagnostic imaging tests are used to know whether you have liver cysts.

• Ultrasound is often used first. It utilizes sound waves to create images of the liver. It is not invasive and painful. It is accessible to patients and the imaging done when cysts are discovered incidentally (that is when you have been requested to do this imaging for another reason)

• Computed tomography (CT) scan uses x-ray images in different angles. It shows more details than the ultrasound.

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses a magnetic field and radio waves to get very clear images of your liver.

These imaging techniques are good at looking for cysts. Ultrasound can detect a few millimeter cysts , which is the modality of choice in 90% of cases. CT and MRI can find more cysts and differentiate the liver from its surrounding tissues better.

Depending on what the goals are, your doctor will determine which type of imaging is best.

When Do Liver Cysts Need Treatment?

The question “how to dissolve liver cysts” is not appropriate to use as there is no way to “dissolve” it. Rather, the treatment for liver cysts is usually monitoring and watchful waiting most of the time. Treatment is not the primary goal once you have been found to have simple cysts.

Treatment is only needed when you meet certain criteria:

• Presence of symptoms

• Mass effect (the cyst is pushing on other tissues surrounding it), producing symptoms, like:

• Feeling of fullness

• Discomfort or pain on the upper right of your belly

• Nausea especially after eating fatty foods

• Yellow discoloration of skin and whites of eyes

• Fever

• Chills

• Size is more than 5 cm in diameter

• However, even when the cyst is more than 5 cm but it does not cause any symptom at all, watchful waiting is still the best approach

• Type of Cyst

• Hydatid cyst

• This type of infection will not resolve without treatment

• Treatment is more beneficial because it addresses the primary reason of the development of the cysts

What Are the Treatment Options for Liver Cysts?

Surgical Treatment for Liver Cysts

The long-term fix for liver cysts is surgery. A procedure called laparoscopic “deroofing” or fenestration is done by removing the top part of the cyst. As a result, the cyst will not be building up fluid again.

The procedure is done laparoscopically (where small cuts and only tubes are inserted in the abdomen) so it is minimally invasive as it does not involve a big cut in the abdomen.

On the other hand, surgeons may need to resect (cut away) a portion of the liver if there are many cysts in that area.

For hydatid cyst to be removed, extra care is needed to ensure that the parasite does not spread.

Non-Surgical Treatment for Liver Cysts

Non-surgical treatments are usually considered for nonparasitic, simple liver cysts. It is also ideal if surgery is not ideal (contraindicated). 

Main contraindications of surgery include:

• Underlying medical conditions that increases the risk of surgery

• Congestive heart failure

• Liver failure

• Portal hypertension

• Ascites

• Symptoms that suggest heart attack

• Need further pre-operative investigation to identify any significant coronary (a large vessel) or carotid stenoses (narrowing of blood vessels)

The main non-surgical treatment includes the following:

• Percutaneous aspiration (needle aspiration)

• The procedure involves inserting a needle through the abdomen into the cyst. It is usually guided with imaging like ultrasound.

• This gives temporary relief but the risk of it coming back (recurrence) is high.

• Percutaneous aspiration with Sclerotherapy

• After aspiration of the fluid, a sclerosing agent (commonly alcohol) is injected to destroy the cyst lining and prevent fluid build-up again.

• However, in about 63% of cases, the cysts came back.

• Medical therapy

• Experimental/Adjunct

• Research is underway to know whether treatment of somatostatin analogs could work in polycystic liver disease

• It has not been part of any practice yet

• Antibiotic Therapy

• Your doctor will prescribe appropriate antibiotics if the cyst is infected (pyogenic abscess)

• This is given with or without drainage of the cyst

• Appropriate medication is also given to patients with hydatid cyst

How Effective Are These Treatments?

Surgical removal is the best treatment approach. Laparoscopic deroofing, on the other hand, still had some risks of coming back. In one study, about 85% of patients with polycystic liver disease and 29% of patients with simple cyst had recurrences.

Needle aspiration works fast but the effects are temporary as mentioned previously. Within two years, 100% of patients with simple cysts had recurrences.

Medical therapy, on its own, for liver cysts is only effective 18-50% and comes back in 3-30% of cases.

There is no magical way to know how to dissolve liver cysts. It is often a combination of multiple treatment approaches to make sure it works.

What is the Recovery Process Like?

The recovery process is often based on which treatment approach you underwent.

• Laparoscopic surgery

• You can go home in as fast as 1-2 days

• Support medications may be given to ensure no discomfort

• Open surgery

• Full recovery usually takes longer for up to 12 weeks

• Percutaneous aspiration

• You can go home right away

• Supportive management like pain medications are given to relieve the soreness after

• Hydatid cysts medication

• Some people experience side effects but usually improves

• If the side effects don’t improve, dosage adjustment may be done but may require longer treatment

Are There Natural or Alternative Methods to Manage Liver Cysts?

Can Diet and Lifestyle Changes Help with Liver Cysts?

There is no food or diet approach that can make liver cysts go away on their own. But having a healthy, functioning liver can better deal with cysts.

• Eat fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins

• Hydrate (drink at least 8 cups of water)

• Reduce intake of processed foods, salt, and sugar

These can help your liver keep working properly even when they don’t dissolve cysts.

Are There Supplements That Can Help in Managing Liver Cysts?

Research has not shown any supplements or herbs that can help manage liver cysts. There are some people who try supplements like milk thistle, turmeric, or dandelion root to ensure liver health. While this supports the overall liver function, these do not help make liver cysts go away.

Always disclose the information to your doctor whatever medications you are taking, both prescribed and those you self-medicated.

What Should I Avoid if You Have Liver Cysts?

Most of the things you should avoid are those that can help the liver function well. For instance, alcohol can put a strain on your liver. If you cannot abstain, moderate and occasional drinking is the best way.

Some over-the-counter medications like pain drugs (Tylenol) can damage your liver in high doses. So follow directions carefully and ensure you exercise precaution in all the medications you are taking.

For females with multiple cysts (polycystic liver disease), avoiding estrogen pills is recommended as they may make the cysts grow faster.

What is the Outlook for People Living with Liver Cysts?

There is no significant morbidity (a state of being sick) associated with liver cysts. Most of the liver cysts are asymptomatic in a lifetime. If you have polycystic liver disease (PLD), new cysts may develop over time. But most people even when there is recurrence of cysts can manage well.

Your doctor will set up a routine scheduled follow-up to monitor your liver cysts. This could mean that you will get periodic ultrasound scans. But if your liver cyst is small and does not progress, you may need fewer follow-ups than those with PLD.

Conclusion

Liver cysts, while often benign and asymptomatic, may require careful management based on their size, type, and presentation. Most simple cysts can be monitored without treatment. But symptomatic or hydatid cysts may require treatments like laparoscopic deroofing in rare cases. There are also nonsurgical options like percutaneous aspiration, although this may carry higher rates of recurrence. While no natural methods are available to dissolve cysts, a healthy lifestyle can support your overall liver function. Regular monitoring and periodic consultation with your doctor ensure effective management. This allows you to live well even after the liver cyst diagnosis.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can liver cysts dissolve on their own?

No. “Dissolve” is an inappropriate term to use. There is no effective management that can shrink or make the cysts “dissolve”.

What is the best management for liver cysts?

Surgery is the best management for both solitary and multiple cysts. It has minimal surgical trauma inflicted, allows for shorter hospital stays, and avoids complications of open surgery.

Do all liver cysts require treatment?

No. Not all liver cysts require treatment. Small, solitary cysts are better left alone with periodic monitoring if required. Only cysts that are multiple throughout the liver (affecting its function), symptomatic (obstruction of key structures), and infection may require treatment.

Written by Jaclyn P. Leyson-Azuela, RMT, MD, MPH
Jaclyn P. Leyson-Azuela, RMT, MD, MPH, is a licensed General Practitioner and Public Health Expert. She currently serves as a physician in private practice, combining clinical care with her passion for preventive health and community wellness.

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