Predictive Factors for Preoperative Diagnosis and Management of Cystic Liver Lesions: A Six Years Single Centre Experience

Abstract

Introduction: Surgical management differs for different cystic lesions of liver. Various clinical, biochemical and radiological features are specific to a particular cystic liver lesion pathology and it’s associated complications. Preoperative diagnosis helps to select appropriate surgical approach and tailoring appropriate management. Aim: To evaluate the clinical, biochemical, radiological predictive factors to differentiate between hydatid diseases, simple cyst of liver and biliary cystadenoma. Also to evaluate appropriate management for hydatid disease with cystobiliary communication. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at Institute of Surgical Gastroenterology, Madras Medical College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Data were collected from 65 patients including 44 patients of hydatid disease, 13 patients of simple cyst, and 8 patients of biliary cystadenoma using a maintained database from January 2014 to December 2019 with a follow up period up to December 2020 (mean follow up of 47.06±24.37 months). Various parameters like presence of cholangitis, deranged liver function test, number of cystic lesion, presence of calcification, presence of septation with or without enhancement were assessed. Data were statistically analysed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Chi-square test. Results: There were 44 (67.69%) females and 21 (32.31%) males in this study with mean age of 50.44±12.23 years. Though multiseptation was associated with 27 (61.36%) of hydatid cysts and 1 (7.69%) of atypical simple cyst, it was more specifically present in biliary cystadenoma 8 (100%). Presence of daughter cyst (n=24, 54.55%) in hydatid disease and multilobulated appearance (n=5, 62.5%) in biliary cystadenoma were strong predictors of diagnosis. Radical surgery was associated with significantly less postoperative bile leak than conservative surgery in patients of hydatid disease with cystobiliary communication. Conclusion: Predictive factors can help to make preoperative diagnosis correctly. Radical surgery reduces postoperative bile leak in patients of hydatid disease with cystobiliary communication.