Polycystic disease of the liver: a report of six patients

Six patients with polycystic liver disease and a different clinical presentation are presented. Two patients were unaware of enormously enlarged livers, two patients with only minor complaints had huge livers reaching into the pelvis and finally, two patients had equally enlarged livers with almost unbearable complaints and insisted on operation. One patient was treated with deroofing and fenestration of multiple cysts (Lin Ty et al., Ann Surg 168: 921-923, 1968). The second patient underwent left hepatic lobectomy. Partial liver resection should be considered in patients with severe mechanical complaints if the majority of cysts is located in one liver lobe.