Liver cysts

Liver cysts are often found by accident during a scan for something else. Most liver cysts will not cause any problems and do not need to be treated. Some more rare types of cysts can be more complicated.

Also called: hepatic cysts, biliary cysts, bile duct cysts.

The information on this page is for:

Adults and children with liver cysts
Family, friends, carers, and healthcare professionals.

Cysts are like little water balloons. They are lined with cells and filled with liquid. Liver cysts usually contain a liquid like bile, made up mostly of water.

Simple cysts are by far the most common type of liver cyst. They are usually harmless. Other types of cyst in the liver or bile ducts are rare. Some of them can be more serious. Hydatid cysts are caused by a parasite and are very rare in the UK.

Liver cysts are not a type of tumour or cancer. You can find more information about benign liver tumours here. And about liver cancer here .

Types of cystic liver disease

Most cysts will not cause any problems. Many people with a simple liver cyst will never even know it is there, and life can carry on as normal. But it is important to find out what type of cyst it is. In some rarer cases, specialist treatment is needed.

Learn more about the causes, tests, and treatments for liver cysts by clicking the links below.

Simple cysts

Also called simple hepatic cysts.
Most common type of liver cyst.
Most simple cysts cause no symptoms or problems.
Usually found by accident during a scan for something else.
Only treated if you start to get symptoms.

Biliary cystadenoma

Usually one large liver cyst.
More common in women.
Usually diagnosed in middle age
Very rare in children
Causes symptoms of fullness and tummy pain.
Can increase the risk of cancer.
Treatment is usually a liver operation.

Hydatid cysts of the liver

Also be called echinococcosis, hydatidosis, or hydatid disease.
Very rare in the UK.
Cysts are caused by a type of parasite.
Treatment involves medicines, surgery, or “watch and wait”.

Fibrocystic liver conditions

These conditions are all caused by a problem with the way the liver develops before birth. This is called a ductal plate malformation. Because the conditions are all linked, people can have more than one of them at the same time.

Information about fibropolycystic liver disease in adults

Polycystic liver disease

Choledochal cysts

Caroli disease

Congenital hepatic fibrosis

Biliary hamartoma

Information about fibropolycystic liver disease in children

Fibropolycystic liver disease

Choledochal cysts

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Our expert reviewers:

We would like to thank everyone who helped with creating and reviewing this information. Including Dr Abid Suddle, King’s College hospital NHS foundation trust, Prof. John Dillon, Professor of Hepatology and Gastroenterology University of Dundee, Indra Van Mourik, Retired Consultant Paediatric Hepatologist and staff at each of the specialist paediatric liver centres: Birmingham Children’s Hospital, King’s College Hospital and Leeds Children’s Hospital. And all our patient reviewers.

Find out how we make our patient information.

Everyone’s experience of liver disease will be different. Always talk to your specialist medical team for personal advice.