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Liver peliosis: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
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Peliosis hepatis is a usually asymptomatic disorder in which multiple blood-filled cystic cavities develop randomly in the liver.
In peliosis hepatis, cysts ranging from a few millimeters to 3 cm in diameter are usually devoid of endothelial lining and surrounded by hepatocytes. Some cysts have an endothelial lining and develop from dilated liver sinusoids. This may be due to damage to the cellular lining of the sinusoids. The development of peliosis hepatis is associated with hormones (anabolic steroids, oral contraceptives, glucocorticoids), tamoxifen, vinyl chloride, vitamin A, and azathioprine (Imuran), especially in patients after kidney transplantation.
Peliosis hepatis is usually asymptomatic, but sometimes it is complicated by cyst rupture with bleeding (sometimes fatal) or the development of overt liver pathology characterized by jaundice, hepatomegaly, and liver failure. Asymptomatic cases may only be detected incidentally, based on minor changes in liver function tests or ultrasound.
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