Caroli's disease: 6 case studies

Acta Gastroenterol Latinoam. 2003;33(1):47-51.

Abstract

Caroll's disease is characterized by congenital non-obstructive dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts of undefined etiology. It is a rare disease usually affecting the whole liver but it may affect a lobe or a segment (11). This study shows the evolution of 6 cases (2 boys and 4 giris) that were diagnosed with Caroli's disease at a referral service. Their ages ranged from 2 to 16 years--median age 10 years. One of the patients presented with cholangitis, while hepatomegaly was observed in 83% of the cases. Four of the patients presented biliary lithiasis and in one of these cholesterol crystals could be observed in the duodenal secretion. The diagnosis was confirmed in 4 cases by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, in 1 by cholangioresonance and 1 by echography. Two of the patients also presented congenital hepatic fibrosis. The outpatient clinic follow-up indicated that all the patients evolved well with the exception of one patient who was selected as a candidate for liver transplantation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Caroli Disease / complications
  • Caroli Disease / diagnosis*
  • Caroli Disease / drug therapy
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cholagogues and Choleretics / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Ursodeoxycholic Acid / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Cholagogues and Choleretics
  • Ursodeoxycholic Acid