What are my liver cysts from?. Prognosis?
I am a 52 year old male recently diagnosed with Bacterimia /Septicemia. After 8 days in the hospital I was released and I am still taking Cipro and Flagel. During my stay in the hospital I received a triple thoracic CT scan a Gallium scan. It was determined that I have over 100 small cysts spread through out my liver and a small polyp in my bile duct. They also mentioned an abcsess in the Liver lateral to the gallbladder and "uptake" into both lungs. There was no mention or concern of cysts in the Kidneys or any where else. The diagnosis at that time was that the cysts resulted from the infection. After a months treatment of antibiotics I had a MRI of the Liver. The Liver MRI shows no sign of change in the number of cysts or size. My doctors now believe that the cysts were not caused by my infection and another pathology may be present.
I am going to see my doctor for more consultations and lots more tests but it will be almost two weeks before I get the results from the next round of tests. I know that they want to look at my entire gastrointestinal tract. Recent colonoscopy and endoscopy showed no problems I have a slightly enlarged prostate and three cases of prostatitus in the last 7 years.
What I would like to know is what tests may be indicated and what possible diagnoses and treatments I may expect. I know I can’t be diagnosed on line but want to prepare myself for whatever is coming.
Please help.
Thanks for your time..
Blood tests for my liver are normal. Parasitic infections have been ruled out.
Thank you for your answer. Shortly after I got your answer I received an MRI report that has the same diagnosis on it. If you are willing I would love to communicate with you to get a better idea of what I could expect and what resources are available. May God bless you and the person under your care.
You have a polycystic liver. Poly means many.
Cysts can be fluid filled or complex. Fluid
filled doesn’t usually cause a problem…the
complex ones can mean they have particules
in them or even, rarely, cancer.
It is good that they are not increasing in size.
If they do start to increase, they could cause
damage to the surrounding cells in the liver.
If this takes place, it would be best to
discuss with the doctor about being
evaluated for placement on the transplant
list.
The abscess in the liver can be drained by
placing a tubing that comes from the abscess
to the outside skin and then to a bag, on the
outside of the body, to collect the contents.
It would be very important to notify the
doctor immediately if you develop even
a mind fever.
If the cells become damaged in the liver,
the immune system will respond to this
and cause inflammation to develop inside
the liver, also. This usually causes the
liver to enlarge in size. An ultrasound or
Ct scan would show this enlargement.
I do know that people can inherit polycystic
kidney disease, but I’m not sure about
the liver having this. You may want to
talk to others in your family about whether
they had liver problems of any sort.
They sometimes do a liver biopsy in
people who have cell damage…but I’m
not sure they would do it to someone that
has cysts there or not…I think more likely
not.
Wish I could be of more help…this is
about all I can give you on this.
Best wishes
December 20th, 2009 at 9:29 am
You have a polycystic liver. Poly means many.
Cysts can be fluid filled or complex. Fluid
filled doesn’t usually cause a problem…the
complex ones can mean they have particules
in them or even, rarely, cancer.
It is good that they are not increasing in size.
If they do start to increase, they could cause
damage to the surrounding cells in the liver.
If this takes place, it would be best to
discuss with the doctor about being
evaluated for placement on the transplant
list.
The abscess in the liver can be drained by
placing a tubing that comes from the abscess
to the outside skin and then to a bag, on the
outside of the body, to collect the contents.
It would be very important to notify the
doctor immediately if you develop even
a mind fever.
If the cells become damaged in the liver,
the immune system will respond to this
and cause inflammation to develop inside
the liver, also. This usually causes the
liver to enlarge in size. An ultrasound or
Ct scan would show this enlargement.
I do know that people can inherit polycystic
kidney disease, but I’m not sure about
the liver having this. You may want to
talk to others in your family about whether
they had liver problems of any sort.
They sometimes do a liver biopsy in
people who have cell damage…but I’m
not sure they would do it to someone that
has cysts there or not…I think more likely
not.
Wish I could be of more help…this is
about all I can give you on this.
Best wishes
References :
caregiver to a liver transplant patient