Differentiation between mucinous cystic neoplasms and simple cysts of the liver: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Radiologic examinations frequently identify cystic liver lesions, which encompass various entities from simple benign cysts to malignant neoplasms. This work analyses the available data to compare diagnostic features of biliary cystic neoplasms and hepatic simple cysts. Methods: A systemati...

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Published in:Abdominal Radiology Vol. 50; no. 9; pp. 4125 - 4139
Main Authors: Manzari Tavakoli, Gita, Afsharzadeh, Mahshad, Mobinikhaledi, Mahya, Behzad, Shima, Ghorani, Hamed, Salahshour, Faeze
Format: Journal Article
Published: Springer Nature Sep2025
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      dt: Sep2025
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      pub: Springer Nature
      place: New York, New York
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        10.1007/s00261-025-04874-3
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        atl: Differentiation between mucinous cystic neoplasms and simple cysts of the liver: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
      aug:
        au:
          Manzari Tavakoli, Gita
          Afsharzadeh, Mahshad
          Mobinikhaledi, Mahya
          Behzad, Shima
          Ghorani, Hamed
          Salahshour, Faeze
        affil: https://ror.org/01c4pz451 Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
      sug:
      ab: Purpose: Radiologic examinations frequently identify cystic liver lesions, which encompass various entities from simple benign cysts to malignant neoplasms. This work analyses the available data to compare diagnostic features of biliary cystic neoplasms and hepatic simple cysts. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science up to October 2024 was conducted. The characteristics were categorized into hepatic simple cysts (HSC) and mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCN), including biliary cystadenoma (BCA) and cystadenocarcinoma (BCAC) detected by imaging modalities including ultrasound, CT scans with IV contrast, or MRI. We analyzed biliary cystic neoplasms and hepatic simple cysts across multiple studies using Review Manager Ver. 5, calculating summary measures for each feature. Results: The study analyzed 577 lesions in 577 patients and 49 studies. Hepatic simple cysts were the most common finding, with 349 identified, mainly in the right hepatic lobe, presented with abdominal pain or incidentally. Intracystic septation was found in 50.1% of HSC lesions, with thick septation in 10.52% of lesions. 228 (49.9%) patients were diagnosed with MCN, with abdominal swelling and pain as the most common presentation. Septation was the most common radiological feature of MCNs, with thick septa in 50.61%. MCNs had internal septa, solid mural nodule, upstream bile duct dilation, presence in the left hepatic lobe, septal thickening, cystic wall enhancement, calcifications, and internal debris. The presence of a cyst in the left lobe was more related to MCNs. Conclusion: Characterizing cystic liver lesions necessitates a comprehensive evaluation of the lesions' location, size, and complexity. Imaging and clinical findings are essential for a final diagnosis. Highlights: Differentiating between MCNs and HSCs based on imaging features can be challenging due to the overlapping in imaging findings and the absence of definitive serum tumor markers. Wall thickness, internal septation, mural nodule, intra-cystic debris, wall enhancement, and bile duct dilation are predictive factors for mucinous cystic neoplasms along with the left lobe location. Hepatic simple cysts are generally lesions with thin and regular walls that are often multiple and affect the right lobe of the liver.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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