Simple surgical treatment of nonparasitic hepatic cysts

Benign nonparasitic liver cysts are uncommon lesions. Incidental diagnosis is increasing with the advent of routine abdominal computed tomography and ultrasound scanning. Cysts that attain massive proportions often become symptomatic and require therapeutic intervention. Surgical resection and Roux-en-Y cystojejunostomy drainage have been the treatments of choice, but simpler unroofing techniques without drainage have recently been employed with success. Three patients with symptomatic, large, nonparasitic cysts were surgically treated in such a fashion without complication and form the basis of this report. The technique of wide unroofing involves excision of the nonhepatic cyst wall with oversewing of communicating biliary radicals. No recurrences have been detected in follow-up screening. Wide unroofing is a simple and yet reliable surgical option for the treatment of symptomatic hepatic cysts.