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Liver cyst refilling: What questions should I ask?

Posted by tessa152 @tessa152, Jul 1, 2021

My liver cyst was aspirated early this year it was the size of a large cantaloupe. It’s now refilling. What questions do I have to ask to select the best procedure and physician?

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Sep 26, 2021

Hello @joannemm30809

I just read your post and I can understand your concern. Any problems with our major organs, and especially the liver, really do cause concern. I've had three surgeries for a rare form of cancer in the upper digestive tract and when a CT scan showed pancreatic cysts and a liver lesion, my anxiety went up very high. I felt sure there was metastasis. However, after follow-up MRIs every other year for at least 10 years, there have been no changes, so all is well.

I am assuming that your doctor has run blood tests to check for liver functioning. Is that the case? If not, that would surely be a first step in determining if there are any serious problems to be dealt with. In the in-between years, when I don't have an MRI, I always ask my doctor to run blood work for pancreas and liver problems. It always comes back in the normal range.

I found some information on liver cysts on the Mayo Clinic website as well as the Clevland Clinic website. Here are the links to those articles.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/liver-problems/expert-answers/liver-cysts/faq-20058440
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17178-liver-cysts--liver-tumors

Also, here is an article from the American Liver Foundation about liver cysts that includes questions for you to ask your doctor, https://liverfoundation.org/for-patients/about-the-liver/diseases-of-the-liver/liver-cysts/

If you read the articles you will see that these types of cysts tend to be benign and usually nothing is done unless there are symptoms. Do you have any of these abdominal symptoms like abdominal pain or fullness?

REPLY
drdolen | @drdolen | Jul 24, 2023
In reply to @amywood20 "@tessa152 have you gone to Mayo for this? I ask because I have polycystic kidney and..." + (show)
@amywood20

@tessa152 have you gone to Mayo for this? I ask because I have polycystic kidney and liver disease, which is different than what you have. But, there is a procedure that Mayo liver specialists do for larger cysts called sclerotherapy. With that the cyst is drained and then filled with foam that causes it to stick to itself. This makes it difficult to fill back up. I had it done on three cysts in my liver and they haven't filled back up. That was a few years ago. You are awake during the procedure and it's pretty easy. Slightly sore afterwards but I was able to leave, go eat and even walk around the Mall of America for a while (we had traveled to Mayo from out of state). I feel like Mayo is the only place in the U.S. that is doing this, but could be wrong. Might be something to look into. Good luck!

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You a TRUE ANGEL!!! I also have 3 Cysts, Simple Cysts in my liver...which are not so "simple" as sufferers know. They claim they were formed when I was in the womb. One is pressing on my vena cava which stops my circulation to arm or leg, No way am I going to just have them "drained." Everyone says they fill right back up eventually. THANK YOU SO MUCH for outlining downtime etc....I am going to Mayo Jacksonville for mine.

REPLY
webby149 | @webby149 | Nov 9, 2023

I had a 10.5 cm Cyst They removed it in December 2022 Its now November 2023 and I am experiencing the same pains and discomfort on my Liver side. The Surgeon is not interested. I went to my Dr and he has scheduled a scan in the next two weeks. I want the Foam treatment if my cysts has refilled itself..

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