Incidence of Liver Cysts in the General Population
Simple hepatic cysts occur in 2.5–18% of the general population, making them one of the most common incidental findings on abdominal imaging. 1
Prevalence by Cyst Type
Simple Hepatic Cysts
- The prevalence is 2.5% in prospective ultrasound studies, increasing substantially with age and showing a female predominance 2
- Higher prevalence estimates of 15-18% have been reported in U.S. populations using enhanced imaging techniques 3
- The wide range (2.5-18%) reflects differences in imaging modality sensitivity, with MRI detecting more small cysts than ultrasound 1
- These cysts preferentially affect the right lobe of the liver and can be multiple 2
Polycystic Liver Disease (PLD)
- Isolated PLD (without kidney involvement) is rare, with a prevalence of 1/10,000 to 1/158,000 1
- In patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), liver cysts develop in >80% by age 30 years, representing the most frequent extrarenal manifestation 1
- PLD is defined as >10 hepatic cysts and affects 70-90% of ADPKD patients 4
- Most ADPKD patients with liver cysts remain asymptomatic and do not develop clinically significant PLD 1
Mucinous Cystic Neoplasms (MCNs)
- MCNs are extremely rare, with an estimated prevalence <5% compared to simple hepatic cysts 1
- These lesions carry malignancy risk with transformation rates up to 30% 5
Clinical Context
Detection and Significance
- The increased detection of liver cysts is primarily due to widespread use of enhanced radiological imaging (ultrasound, CT, MRI) 1
- Most hepatic cysts (approximately 95%) remain asymptomatic throughout life 6, 7
- Only 5% of patients with liver cysts develop symptoms requiring intervention 7