A simple hepatic cyst with elevated serum and cyst fluid CA19-9 levels: a case report

Benign hepatic cysts are commonly observed in the general population, however, they rarely cause symptoms. Simple hepatic cysts are generally stable in size over time, but may grow slowly and occasionally become symptomatic due to mass effect, rupture, hemorrhage, and infection [1]. We report a patient with a large hepatic cyst with elevated serum and cyst fluid CA19-9 levels. Further, we studied serum and cyst fluid CA19-9 levels in this patient, before and after intracystic instillation of minocycline hydrochloride.

A 76-year-old Japanese woman was admitted because of fever and chill. Physical examination revealed percussion tenderness in the right upper quadrant. She had previously been diagnosed as having a large simple hepatic cyst and elevated serum CA19-9 levels. Laboratory examination showed increased serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) (14.5 mg/dl; reference: < 0.3 mg/dl) and CA19-9 (170 U/ml; reference: < 37 U/ml), and Escherichia coli were cultured from blood. Enhanced abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed a large hepatic cyst with partially enhanced thickened cystic wall (Figure 1A). From this and the tenderness to touch in her right upper quadrant, we diagnosed an infected hepatic cyst [2], and started antibiotic therapy using β-lactamase inhibitors.

In addition, we performed percutaneous treatment of the hepatic cyst by drainage and sclerotherapy using minocycline hydrochloride. Briefly, after local anesthesia of the puncture site with 1% mepivacaine hydrochloride, a 20-cm long, 22-gauge needle was passed into the cyst under real-time ultrasonic guidance with a 3.5 MHz convex transducer. After a pig tail catheter had been inserted into the cyst, the cystic fluid was aspirated. Bacteria, neoplastic cells, and parasites were not detected in the cystic fluid, however, CA19-9 levels were elevated in hepatic cyst fluid (371 U/ml). At 3 days after drainage, her fever and serum CRP level (4.1 mg/dl) were remarkably decreased; this also supported the diagnosis of an infected hepatic cyst. 400 mg of minocycline hydrochloride was dissolved in 50 ml of saline, and this minocycline solution was injected into the cyst using the drainage catheter. The drain was closed, and was opened 24 hours after intracystic instillation of minocycline hydrochloride. To determine the contribution of the hepatic cyst to the CA19-9 levels, we measured serum and cyst fluid CA19-9 levels before, 1 day after and 1 week after intracystic instillation of minocycline hydrochloride. After intracystic instillation, necrotic cells in the cyst were drained, and the cyst totally collapsed after 1 week (Figure 1B). Cyst fluid CA19-9 levels increased remarkably after the minocycline instillation, while serum CA19-9 levels decreased (Figure 2).

Imaging modalities such as CT and ultrasound are highly accurate for diagnosing simple hepatic cysts, however, the distinction between cystadenoma and a simple hepatic cyst complicated by intracystic hemorrhage has been reported to be difficult [3]. The measurement of serum and cyst fluid CA19-9 levels has been reported to be helpful in distinguishing between a hemorrhagic simple cyst and cystadenoma or cystadenocarcinoma [4, 5]. However, serum and cyst fluid CA19-9 levels were increased in our patient with a simple hepatic cyst before treatment, challenging this suggestion. Elevated serum and cyst fluid CA19-9 levels in our patient before treatment may be due to an infected hepatic cyst. Yoshida et al. also observed elevated serum and cyst fluid CA19-9 levels in a patient with an infected hepatic cyst [2], and in a patient with a simple hepatic cyst complicated with intracystic hemorrhage [6]. Further, elevated serum CA19-9 levels were found in a patient with an inflammatory pseudotumor of the liver [7]. Sawabu et al. reported that serum CA19-9 levels in patients with cholelithiasis complicated by cholangitis frequently showed markedly high values, and serum CA19-9 levels were rapidly decreased and normalized by amelioration of inflammation [8], indicating a significant association between inflammation of the hepatobiliary system and CA19-9 levels. In our patient, cyst fluid CA19-9 levels were elevated concomitant with increased flow of necrotic cyst wall cells after the minocycline instillation, suggesting that CA19-9 may originate from the hepatic cyst wall cells. Inflammation, including infection and the minocycline instillation-induced tissue injury may induce necrosis of the hepatic cyst wall cells, and may consequently increase serum and cyst fluid CA19-9 levels. This study revealed that the treatment of a simple hepatic cyst by instillation of minocycline hydrochloride significantly decreased the serum CA19-9 levels, suggesting that serum CA19-9 may also originate from the hepatic cyst.

To our knowledge, our study is the first report to reveal a significant influence of intracystic instillation of minocycline hydrochloride on serum and cyst fluid CA19-9 levels in a patient with a simple hepatic cyst. Further clinical studies are needed in a large number of patients.

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for the publication of this case report and any accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal.