Can liver cysts cause stomach pain?

Answer From Michael F. Picco, M.D.

Simple liver cysts are fluid-filled cavities in the liver. Usually, they cause no symptoms and need no treatment. However, they may become large enough to cause pain or discomfort in the upper right part of the abdomen.

Most liver cysts can be seen on ultrasound or CT scans. When needed, treatment may include drainage or removal of the cyst.

The cause of simple liver cysts isn't known. They may be the result of a malformation present at birth. Rarely, liver cysts may mean a serious, underlying condition such as:

  • Polycystic liver disease, a disorder that runs in families.
  • Echinococcus infection, a parasitic infection.
  • Liver cancer.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

Feb. 10, 2024 See more Expert Answers

See also

  1. Abdominal pain
  2. CT scan
  3. Fatigue
  4. Foamy urine: What does it mean?
  5. Infant jaundice
  6. Itchy skin (pruritus)
  7. Liver biopsy
  8. Liver disease
  9. Liver function tests
  10. Liver transplant
  11. Macrocytosis: What causes it?
  12. Mayo Clinic Minute: Fingernails are clues to your health
  13. MRI
  14. Nausea and vomiting
  15. Needle biopsy
  16. Seeing inside the heart with MRI
  17. Ultrasound
  18. MRI