Nonsurgical treatment for symptomatic nonparasitic liver cyst.

Liver cysts seldom become symptomatic. For the few requiring intervention, various surgical modalities have been described. Cyst fluid has been removed by simple needle aspiration. Injection of formalin into echinococcus cysts at time of operation is not uncommon. In an analogy to the treatment of kidney cysts, we evacuated a large symptomatic liver cyst by percutaneous drainage and instilled alcohol as a sclerosing agent. This simple procedure may be sufficient treatment for selected symptomatic nonparasitic liver cysts.