Ultrasonically diagnosed simple cysts of the liver.

In 26 patients simple cysts of the liver were diagnosed by ultrasonography. Half of the patients had no symptoms, and half presented with abdominal pain and a palpable mass; 14 patients with small cysts required no treatment. Nine patients were operated upon, while 3 patients with large cysts were treated exclusively by ultrasonically guided drainage. Further, ultrasonically guided drainage was successful in two patients with recurrences after surgical treatment. Patients with small asymptomatic cysts of the liver, incidentally diagnosed should be left without treatment. Ultrasonically guided puncture is advocated as the first treatment in patients with large symptomatic cysts.