Abstract
PURPOSE: To study the extent to which aspiration-sclerotherapy reduces liver volume and whether this therapy results in relief of symptoms. RESULTS: Four patients, group I, with isolated large liver cysts, and 11 patients, group II, with polycystic livers, underwent aspiration-sclerotherapy. Average volume of aspirated cyst fluid was 1,044 ml (range 225-2,000 ml) in group I and 1,326 ml (range 40-4,200 ml) in group II. Mean liver volume before the procedure was 2,157 ml (range 1,706-2,841 ml) in group I and 4,086 ml (range 1,553-7,085 ml) in group II. This decreased after the procedure to 1,757 ml (range 1,479-2,187 ml) in group I. In group II there was a statistically significant decrease to 3,347 ml (range 1,249-6,930 ml, P = 0.008). Volume reduction was 17.1% (range -34.7% to -4.1%) and 19.2% (range -53.9% to +2.4%) in groups I and II, respectively. Clinical severity of all symptoms decreased, except for involuntary weight loss and pain in group II. CONCLUSION: Aspiration-sclerotherapy is an effective means of achieving liver volume reduction and relief of symptoms.