An-Najah Staff

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to report the authors' experience with hepatic resection for cystic lesions of the liver, and to identify the outcome.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of patients who had liver resection for cystic lesions between January 1, 2003, and December 31, 2010 was carried out at Selayang Hospital, a tertiary referral centre in Malaysia. RESULTS: 63 patients (11 male, 52 females) with a median age of 53.5 (range 25–78 years) underwent surgical treatment for nonparasitic cystic liver lesions. There was one mortality (1.6%), and morbidity developed in 8 patients (12.7%). Symptomatic relief was complete and permanent in all of the patients with benign congenital cysts and biliary cystadenomas. None of the patients developed recurrence during the follow up period. In patients with polycystic liver disease, symptomatic relief after surgery was prompt, but temporary.
CONCLUSION: Hepatic resection is safe and effective for cystic lesions of the liver. Symptomatic relief is complete and permanent after hepatic resection, except in cases of diffuse polycystic disease of the liver where liver transplantation should be considered when symptoms are extremely severe. Further studies are required to identify the role of laparoscopic management of symptomatic single or localized multiple cysts.