Purpose: Recent advances in ultrasonography have increased prenatal diagnosis of biliary atresia (BA) and choledochal cyst (CC). These conditions are not easy to distinguish before or just after birth. This study investigated diagnostic and therapeutic problems in prenatal diagnosis of BA and CC.
Methods: We retrospectively studied clinical characteristics and progression of hepatobiliary cysts in 10 patients (4 cases of BA, 6 cases of CC) from the time of diagnosis. Chronological changes in cyst size and gallbladder morphology were assessed and measured sequentially by ultrasonography.
Results: Three cases of BA were type I cyst and 1 case was type III-d. All cases of CC were type Ia. Cyst size decreased between birth and surgery in BA but increased in CC. The gallbladder appeared atrophic in BA. There was no significant difference in gestational age or cyst size at prenatal diagnosis, changes in cyst size between birth and surgery, and degree of liver fibrosis.
Conclusions: BA should be suspected if cyst size decreases before and after birth and the gallbladder atrophies after birth. Cholangiography is the only reliable method to differentiate BA from CC. Neonatal surgery is indicated for CC with icterus and liver dysfunction.
Keywords: Biliary atresia; Biliary cystic malformation; Choledochal cyst; Prenatal diagnosis.
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