Cystic lesions of the liver (differential)

Last revised by Arlene Campos ◉ on 20 Jun 2024

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Weerakkody Y, Campos A, Knipe H, et al. Cystic lesions of the liver (differential). Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 15 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-30833

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-30833

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/30833?embed_domain=external.radpair.com%25252525252527%2525252525255B0%2525252525255D

rID:

30833

Article created:

6 Sep 2014, Yuranga Weerakkody ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Yuranga Weerakkody had no recorded disclosures.

View Yuranga Weerakkody's current disclosures

Last revised:

20 Jun 2024, Arlene Campos ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Arlene Campos had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.

View Arlene Campos's current disclosures

Revisions:

13 times, by 8 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Hepatobiliary

Sections:

Gamuts

Synonyms:

Cystic liver lesions
Cystic hepatic lesions
Cystic liver lesion
Cystic hepatic lesion

Cystic lesions of the liver carry a broad differential diagnosis:

simple cysts
- simple hepatic cyst
- biliary hamartoma
- Caroli disease
- adult polycystic liver disease
- ciliated hepatic foregut duplication cyst ⁶
infectious: inflammatory conditions
- hepatic abscess
  - pyogenic hepatic abscess
  - amoebic hepatic abscess
- hepatic hydatid cyst
neoplastic: tumors
others
- liquified hepatic hematoma
- biloma

Practical points

If considering placing a percutaneous drain into a presumed hepatic abscess, a biopsy is mandatory since placing a drain in a cystic hepatic metastasis is contraindicated ^ref.