Patient's question:
My uncle went for a thorough check-up yesterday because he wasn't feeling well. The result said he has multiple liver cysts. Is this the same as polycystic liver disease? Hello, is multiple liver cysts the same as polycystic liver disease?Doctor's answer:
Polycystic liver disease is a hereditary condition with a family history, where similar cases may be found among parents and siblings. It often co-occurs with polycystic spleen and polycystic kidney. In polycystic liver disease, there is no normal liver tissue between the cysts. Hepatic cysts are retention cysts within the liver, representing a degenerative change, and can be either solitary or multiple. Normal liver tissue is present between the cysts, which helps in differentiation. In very rare cases of polycystic liver disease, the condition is limited to half of the liver.