Liver Cysts

Most of the time, liver cysts do not cause any symptoms. But after some time, liver cysts may start to grow and become bigger, this is when symptoms are usually observed. Symptoms include:

• Pain or discomfort in the upper right abdomen
• Abdominal bloating 
• Nausea 
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Feeling full after small meals
• Shortness of breath
• Jaundice
• Fever and sudden sharp pain (might be due to the cyst bursting)
• Able to physically feel bumps through the abdomen at the site of the liver

Are Liver Cysts painful?

Most of the time, liver cysts do not produce any symptoms, so you may not feel any pain or discomfort at all. However, in some individuals, the cyst might grow exponentially, causing some pain in the upper right side of the abdomen. 

On rare occasions, the cyst might grow too big until it ruptures, that would cause a sudden sharp pain and be accompanied by a fever.

Who is at risk of Liver Cysts in Singapore?

While most liver cysts are congenital, there are some factors that might increase your risk of liver cysts: 

• Gender: women are more likely to develop liver cysts than men.
• Age: your risk increases as you age.
• Geographic location: living or travelling in countries where the echinococcus parasite is endemic will increase your risk of liver cysts associated with it.
• Family history: if you have relatives with liver cysts, your risk also increases.