Cystic diseases

The overwhelming majority of cystic disease is caused by simple cysts. There are also inherited disorders that cause cysts, including polycystic liver disease, congenital hepatic fibrosis and Caroli’s syndrome. Although rare in the UK, hydatid cysts are caused by a parasitic infection.

What is cystic disease?
The bile ducts in the liver are like the branches of a tree that come together just below the stomach. This is known as the biliary tree, sometimes called the biliary system or biliary tract. A side branch of the biliary tree leads to the gallbladder, the organ that stores bile. Gallbladder disease involving the biliary tree is more common than cystic disease.

Cysts affecting the biliary tree belong to a group of diseases caused by congenital bile duct abnormality and are usually inherited. These cysts can create problems by:

• placing pressure on surrounding organs and body tissue as they become enlarged
• causing inflammation of the bile ducts, known as cholangitis
• causing increased blood pressure in the portal vein, known as portal hypertension.