Liver Cysts

Liver cysts are sacs in your liver that are filled with fluid. Occurring in about 5% of the population, they are usually benign (non-cancerous).

There are different types of liver cysts:

Simple cysts: Benign fluid-filled sacs
Complex cysts: More complicated cysts that contain divisions within the cyst, have multiple compartments, or nodules along the cyst wall.
Parasite cysts (hyatid cysts): Cysts caused by ingesting tapeworm parasite eggs
Cystadenoma and cystadenocarcinoma: Cysts that contain bile fluid instead of clear fluid (as in simple cysts).
Polycystic liver disease (PLD): Multiple cysts resembling grape-like clusters; often associated with polycystic kidney disease.

Liver cysts can develop incidentally or congenitally (present at birth) and go undetected until adulthood. Most liver cysts do not cause symptoms; if they do, patients would feel some discomfort or pain in the upper right part of their abdomen.

Treatments for Liver Cysts

Most simple cysts that do not have symptoms do not require treatment. However, if the cysts become bigger and cause discomfort, some more invasive forms of treatment may include:

Draining the fluid from the cyst
Removing part of the cyst’s wall
Removing the cancerous cyst
Liver resection to remove parts of the liver infected by the cyst
Antibiotics (for parasite cysts)
Liver transplant (for polycystic liver disease)

Dr Victor Lee and Dr Ek Khoon Tan have more than 40 years of experience treating liver cancer, colorectal liver metastases, and other liver tumours. We believe that dedication, skill, and multidisciplinary care is key to achieving optimal outcomes.

For more information, call us at

6737 8878

Mount Elizabeth Orchard

6475 1488

Gleneagles Hospital

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