Liver Lesions and Cysts
Liver lesions and liver cysts are common findings that are often discovered during scans performed for other reasons. While hearing that you have a lesion or cyst in your liver can be worrying, most are benign (non-cancerous) and do not cause serious health problems.
What are liver lesions and cysts?
A liver lesion is an area of abnormal tissue within the liver. Liver lesions can vary greatly in size, appearance, and cause. Some are harmless growths, while others may require further investigation.
A liver cyst is a specific type of liver lesion that contains fluid. Most liver cysts are benign and cause no symptoms.
Liver lesions are increasingly identified because ultrasound, CT scans, and MRI scans are used more frequently. Studies suggest that benign liver lesions are present in a significant proportion of adults, many of whom never develop symptoms.
Common benign liver lesions include:
simple liver cysts
haemangiomas (collections of blood vessels)
focal nodular hyperplasia
hepatic adenomas
Less commonly, liver lesions may represent:
infections
inflammatory conditions
parasitic cysts
primary liver cancer
cancer that has spread to the liver from another part of the body
At Welbeck, our specialist liver surgeons and physicians provide expert assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of liver lesions and cysts. Using advanced imaging and a multidisciplinary approach, they help determine whether a lesion requires monitoring, treatment, or reassurance.
More information
Many liver lesions and cysts cause no symptoms and are discovered incidentally during imaging performed for another reason. Hence, most liver lesions and cysts are asymptomatic (do not cause symptoms).
When symptoms do occur, they may include:
discomfort or pain in the upper right side of the abdomen
a feeling of fullness or pressure in the abdomen
bloating
nausea
reduced appetite
feeling full quickly after eating
an enlarged liver
a noticeable abdominal swelling in rare cases
Symptoms are more likely if a cyst or lesion becomes large, bleeds, becomes infected, or presses on nearby structures.
You should seek medical advice if you experience persistent abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), or worsening digestive symptoms.
The cause depends on the type of lesion or cyst.
Simple liver cysts
Simple liver cysts are the most common type of liver cyst. The exact cause is not fully understood, but they’re thought to develop from small abnormalities in the bile ducts during fetal development.
Haemangiomas
Haemangiomas are benign clusters of blood vessels within the liver. They’re the most common benign liver tumour and are often present from birth.
Focal nodular hyperplasia
Focal nodular hyperplasia develops when liver tissue grows in response to changes in nearby blood vessels. These lesions are benign and rarely cause complications.
Hepatic adenomas
Hepatic adenomas are uncommon benign tumours that are linked to hormonal influences. They’re more common in women and may be associated with:
long-term use of oral contraceptive pills
obesity
anabolic steroid use
Polycystic liver disease
Some people inherit a condition called polycystic liver disease, which causes multiple cysts to develop throughout the liver.
Cancerous lesions
In some cases, a liver lesion may represent a primary liver cancer or a cancer that has spread from elsewhere in the body.
Risk factors
Factors that may increase the likelihood of developing certain liver lesions include:
being female
ageing
obesity
hormone therapy
oral contraceptive use
chronic liver disease
viral hepatitis
family history of inherited liver disorders
Many liver lesions and cysts cannot be prevented because they develop naturally or are present from birth.
However, there are steps you can take to support liver health and reduce your risk of developing liver disease:
maintain a healthy weight
eat a balanced diet
limit alcohol consumption
exercise regularly
avoid smoking
attend routine health checks when recommended
seek treatment for viral hepatitis if diagnosed
discuss hormone medications with your doctor if you have risk factors for liver adenomas
While these measures cannot prevent all liver lesions, they can help protect your overall liver health.
Most liver lesions and cysts remain stable and never cause complications. When complications do occur, they’re often associated with larger lesions or specific types of growth.
Potential complications include:
enlargement of the lesion or cyst
bleeding within a lesion
infection of a cyst
rupture of a cyst, which is uncommon
compression of nearby organs or bile ducts
abdominal discomfort or pain
jaundice, in rare cases
malignant transformation in certain types of adenoma
It’s important to remember that serious complications are uncommon. Most patients with benign liver lesions require only monitoring and reassurance.
Your consultant will explain any risks associated with your specific diagnosis and recommend the most appropriate follow-up plan.
Treatment depends on the type of lesion, its size, whether it’s causing symptoms, and whether there’s any concern of cancer. Many liver lesions require no treatment at all.
Treatment options may include:
monitoring with repeat ultrasound, CT, or MRI scans
lifestyle modifications and management of underlying liver disease
stopping hormonal medications where appropriate
aspiration (draining) of selected cysts
sclerotherapy to reduce cyst recurrence
surgical removal or deroofing of symptomatic cysts
surgical removal of selected benign tumours
liver resection for lesions that require further assessment
treatment of underlying infection if present
cancer treatments if a malignant lesion is diagnosed
At Welbeck, treatment plans are tailored to each patient, ensuring that intervention is recommended only when clinically appropriate and likely to provide benefit.
At Welbeck, our liver surgeons and physicians are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.
With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.
All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.
Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.
Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.
Get in touch today to book an appointment.
Our specialists
Our locations
Loading
Frequently asked questions
Most liver lesions and cysts are benign and not cancerous. However, some liver lesions can represent cancer or have features that require further investigation. Imaging scans performed by experienced specialists can usually determine whether a lesion is benign or requires additional assessment.
Most simple liver cysts remain stable over time. Some may change slightly in size, but they rarely disappear completely. In most cases, treatment is not required unless the cyst causes symptoms.
Most people with benign liver lesions can continue their usual activities, including exercise. If you have a very large lesion or have recently undergone treatment, your consultant may recommend temporary activity modifications.
The need for follow-up depends on the type of lesion, its size, and your individual circumstances. Some benign lesions require no further monitoring, while others may need periodic imaging to confirm they have remained stable.