Post-traumatic cyst of the liver found on CT scan--a new concept.

Six patients with traumatic cyst of liver are reported. Among them three patients without clinical manifestation had cysts detected by followup study with CT scan, which has been routinely performed since 1978 in 14 patients with blunt injuries of liver. Two cases of spontaneous cure of traumatic cyst are also reported. There was no relationship between the severity of the injury and cyst formation. Clinical signs, such as abdominal pain, tenderness, or distention were observed in only two of the six patients. We consider, therefore, that traumatic cysts of liver may occur much oftener than has been commonly accepted and that most of them may cure spontaneously. Elevation of alkaline phosphatase later after injury may suggest expansion of the cyst. In such cases CT examination is mandatory.