[Prenatal ultrasonic diagnosis of a cystic abdominal tumor--liver cyst and its differential diagnosis].

A report is presented on the prenatal development of a solitary hepatic cyst in a fetus of the 39th week of pregnancy. Sonography revealed that nearly the entire abdomen was filled by a cyst that caused displacement of the stomach and intestine as well as elevation of the diaphragm. Abdominal distension necessitated delivery before term by cesarean section. The laparotomy subsequently performed because of increasing dyspnea of the newborn showed the left lobe of the liver to be the point of origin of a solitary hepatic cyst that could be removed in toto. Possibilities of post partum therapy are discussed in addition to obstetrical management. The incidence, localisation and size of solitary hepatic cysts as well as their differential diagnosis are also described.