What is the Right Therapeutic Approach to Biliary Choledochal Cyst?

Acta Clin Croat. 2017 Jun;56(2):344-348. doi: 10.20471/acc.2017.56.02.20.

Abstract

We report a case of biliary cyst type II which, independently of its a priori benign nature, caused numerous complications such as recurrent cholangitis and pancreatitis, as well as subsequent hepatic fibrosis and the potential danger of choledochocele perforation. Although they are benign, biliary/choledochal cysts can cause numerous disorders such as cholestasis, leading to cholangitis and pancreatitis and biliary sepsis, and due to chronic inflammation of the biliary system even cholangiocarcinogenesis. Our findings showed that sometimes this type of biliary cyst (according to the available literature the rarest and most benign type), as well as type I cyst, should undergo timely radical excision. In our patient, timely choledochocele resection would have certainly contributed to the reduction of subsequent complications, as well as to obviating repeated invasive diagnostic and surgical procedures.

Keywords: Bile ducts – surgery; Biliary tract diseases – therapy; Case reports; Cholangitis; Pancreatitis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Pain / etiology
  • Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y
  • Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde
  • Cholecystectomy / methods*
  • Choledochal Cyst / diagnostic imaging
  • Choledochal Cyst / surgery*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Middle Aged
  • Multimodal Imaging / methods
  • Recurrence
  • Treatment Outcome