• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.180-186
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• 2015

Purpose: Bile duct dilatation is a relatively common sonographic finding; nevertheless, its clinical significance in children is controversial because little research has been done in the area. Therefore, we investigated the natural course and clinical significance of biliary duct dilatation in children. Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 181 children (range, 1-day-old to 17-year-old) in whom dilatation of the intrahepatic duct and/or common hepatic duct and/or common bile duct was detected by abdominal ultrasonography at the Severance Children's Hospital between November 2005 and March 2014. We reviewed and analyzed laboratory test results, clinical manifestations, and clinical course in these patients. Results: Pediatric patients (n=181) were enrolled in the study and divided into two groups. The first group included 59 subjects, without definitive cause of bile duct dilatation, who did not require treatment; the second group included 122 subjects, with definitive cause of bile duct dilatation or underlying biliary disease, who did require treatment. In the first group, 24 patients (40.7%) showed spontaneous resolution of bile duct dilatation, 20 patients (33.9%) showed no change, and 15 patients (25.4%) were lost to follow-up. In the second group, 31 patients were diagnosed with choledochal cysts, and 91 patients presented with biliary tract dilatations due to secondary causes, such as gallbladder or liver disease, post-operative complications, or malignancy. Conclusion: Biliary dilatation in pediatric patients without symptoms, and without laboratory and other sonographic abnormalities, showed a benign clinical course. No pathologic conditions were noted on follow-up ultrasonography.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.531-538
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• 2020

Purpose: Our aim was the longitudinal assessment of cyst size in fetuses with biliary cystic malformation (BCM) to explore its etiology and the possibility of antenatal differentiation between biliary atresia (BA) and congenital biliary dilatation (CBD). Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of all patients diagnosed antenatally with BCM from 1994 to 2014 at our institutions. Results: The study cohort comprised of three patients with BA and six with CBD. There were no significant differences in the gestational age and cyst size at the first detection of BCM between the two groups. In fetuses with CBD, the cyst size steadily increased as the gestational age advanced, while it fluctuated around 1.5 cm and remained below 2.1 cm in those with BA. However, the ratio of cystic area to fetal trunk area was approximately constant due to linear fetal growth in fetuses with CBD. Conclusion: Fetuses with BCM <2.1 cm in the late gestation period were more likely to have BA than CBD. Our observation of cyst enlargement with advancing gestational age in the CBD group was attributed solely to fetal growth. Biliary dilatation in fetuses with CBD and BA might be completed at the onset of BCM.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.161-167
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• 2022

Congenital web formations are extremely rare anomalies of the extrahepatic biliary tree. We herein report a case of common bile duct septum combined with multiple intrahepatic bile duct strictures in a 74-year-old female patient who was successfully treated with radiological intervention. The patient initially visited the hospital because of upper abdominal pain. Imaging studies revealed multifocal strictures with dilatation in both intra- and extrahepatic ducts; the final clinical diagnosis was congenital common bile duct web combined with multiple intrahepatic duct strictures. Surgical treatment was not indicated because multiple biliary strictures were untreatable, and the disease was clinically diagnosed as benign. The multiple strictures were extensively dilated twice through bilateral percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) for 2 months. After 1 month of observation, PTBD catheters were successfully removed. The patient is doing well at 6 months after completion of the radiological intervention, with the maintenance of normal liver function. Congenital web of the bile duct is very rare, and its treatment may vary depending on the patterns of biliary stenosis. In cases where surgical intervention is not indicated for congenital web and its associated disease, radiological intervention with balloon dilatation can be a viable therapeutic option.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.136-141
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• 2004

Biliary atresia (BA) with extrahepatic biliary cysts (EHBC) is a rare disease. It has been generally recognized as type I (correctable with cystic dilatation), which means a good prognosis. From a total of 73 patients with BA who underwent operation from September 1988 to September 2003 at our institute, 7 (9.6 %) cases of type III BA with EHBC (uncorrectable with cystic dilatation) are reviewed. Clinical findings, laboratory data, radiologic findings, treatment methods and outcomes were reviewed. Female was more prevalent (male to female ratio; 2:5). All cases were type III with EHBC according to the intraoperative cholangiography, and underwent Kasai' s portoenterostomy. The mean age was 57 days at operation. Three patients(42.9 %) are long term survivors. Further evaluation is needed to determine the correlation between prognostic factors and outcome for.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.126-129
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• 1999

A 6 and a half year-old girl developed recurrent cholangitis following hepatic portoenterostomy for biliary atresia. Computed tomogram showed an ovoid cyst ($4.5{\times}4.0$ cm in size) in the left hepatic lobe and another tubular dilatation ($2.0{\times}0.8$ cm in size) in the right hepatic lobe. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage(PTCD) and cystogram showed an ovoid cyst in the left hepatic lobe (Tsuchida type A), measuring $6.6{\times}5.0$ cm in size. Following drainage and administration of parenteral antibiotics she became afebrile and anicteric. However she continued to drain 45-150 cc of bile per day via the tube over the next 2 weeks. The patient successfully underwent intrahepatic cystojejunostomy with intraoperative ultrasonographic guidance. This case illustrates relapsing cholangitis caused by Tsuchida type A intrahepatic cyst, successfully managed with PTCD followed by an internal drainage procedure.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.332-339
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• 2022

Purpose: Although endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has been used for more than five decades, its applicability in Bangladeshi children has recently become more common. Therefore, this manuscript aims to describe our experience in performing ERCPs in Bangladeshi children with hepatopancreaticobiliary diseases, focusing on presenting diseases, as well as the diagnostic and therapeutic efficacy. Methods: Between 2018 and 2021, 20 children underwent 30 ERCP procedures at the Bangladesh Specialized Hospital, Dhaka. A single trained adult gastroenterologist performed all procedures using a therapeutic video duodenoscope. The indications for ERCP, diagnostic findings, therapeutic procedures, and complications were documented. Results: The median age of the study patients was 10 years (range, 1.7-15 years). Successful cannulation of the papilla was achieved in 28 procedures and failed in 2 cases. Repeated ERCP was required in seven patients. Nine patients had biliary indications and 11 had pancreatic indications. Choledocholithiasis was the most common indication for ERCP in patients with biliary disease, while chronic pancreatitis was common among patients with pancreatic indications. Pancreatic divisum was observed in only one patient. Pancreatic and biliary sphincterotomy was performed in 14 and 9 cases, respectively. A single pigtail or straight therapeutic stent was inserted in seven cases and removed in five cases. Stone extraction was performed in six procedures, and balloon dilatation was performed in five procedures. The post-procedural period for these patients was uneventful. Conclusion: We found that ERCP is a practical and successful therapeutic intervention for treating hepatopancreaticobiliary disorders in children when performed by experienced endoscopists.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.203-208
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• 2018

Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe our treatment experiences with patients who had acute abdomen (AA) with common bile duct (CBD) dilatation. Methods: The treatment outcomes in children with AA and CBD dilatation were retrospectively reviewed. According to the shape of the intrahepatic bile ducts on ultrasonography (US), the origin of the pain was estimated as choledochal cyst (CC) complication or choledocholithiasis in normal CBD. Patients with complicated CC underwent surgery, and patients with choledocholithiasis in a normal appearing CBD underwent symptomatic treatment initially. Results: Of the 34 patients, 30 (88.2%) were female. The mean age of the patients was $6.4{\pm}4.9$ (range, 0.8-17) years. Seventeen (50.0%) patients had CBD stones and 17 (50.0%) did not. Surgical treatment was performed in 20 (58.8%) patients, 2 of whom underwent preoperative stone removal with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and an operation. Conservative treatment was applied in 12 (35.3%) patients (8 with and 4 without stones), 1 of whom developed symptom relapse and underwent an operation. Among the 8 patients with CBD stones, 4 (4/17, 23.5%) had complete resolution of the stones and recovery of the CBD diameter after conservative treatment. US findings of patients with stone showed a fusiform or cylindrical shape of the CBD in 14 (82.4%) patients. Conclusion: The presence of stones in the distal CBD and the US features of CBD dilatation may be helpful to diagnose and treat the causes of biliary dilatation. Conservative treatment can be considered as initial therapy in patients with uncomplicated CBD dilatation with stone.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.136-140
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• 2012

A 61-year-old male who complained of right upper quadrant pain was referred to the authors for evaluation after his computed tomography suggested biliary adenocarcinoma. The lesion consisted of multiple cysts with papillary mass and peri-ampullay mass. The patient underwent an operation due to a clinical suspicion of biliary cystadenocarcinoma, but the pathology confirmed biliary papillomatosis (BP) after diagnosing intrahepatic papillary neoplasm with high-grade dysplasia and invasive adenocarcinoma with papillary neoplasm from the distal common bile duct to the duodenum. BP is a disease characterized by multiple papillary masses. Its cause has yet to be discovered. It commonly manifests as bile duct dilation but rarely as a ductal cystic change. Under computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, both the BP and the cystic neoplasm can show bile duct dilation and a papillary mass, which makes their differential diagnosis difficult. A confirmative diagnosis can be made through a pathologic examination. BP is classified as a benign disease that can become malignant and may recur, though rarely. Its treatment of choice is surgical resection. Laser ablation or photodynamic therapy can be used for unresectable lesions. In the case featured in this paper, biliary papillomatosis was difficult to differentiate from cystic adenocarcinoma due to diffusely scattered multiple large cystic lesions in the liver, and it was histologically confirmed to have become malignant with cystic duct dilation after the operation. This case is reported herein with a literature review.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.148-153
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• 1997

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic role of a three-dimensional MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) over endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) in various extrah-epatic biliary disease. Materials and Methods: MRCP and ERCP were performed in 45 consecutive patients with suspected extrahepatic biliary diseases. MRCP was obtained using a reverse fast imaging with a steady-state free precession (reverse FISP: PSIF) sequence, and then images were reconstructed by standard MIP algorithm. The predictability of biliary dilatation and level of obstruction of MRCP was evaluated using ERCP as a gold standard. The accuracy distinguishing malignant from benign lesions, and overall diagnostic accuracy were compared between MRCP and ERCP. Results: The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of MRCP in predicting biliary dilatation were 94.6%, 75.0% and 91.1%, respectively. The level of obstruction was accurate in 87.0% with MRCP. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of MRCP and ERCP in distinguishing malignant from benign lesions were 76.2%, 87.5% and 82.2% and 71.4%, 83.3% and 77.8%, respectively. The overall diagnostic accuracy was 60.0% with MRCP and 55.6% with ERCP. Conclusion: 3D MRCP shows a good diagnostic value compared to that of ERCP, and can replace a ERCP.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.254-259
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• 1990

We examined patients with suspected acute or intermittent biliary obstruction using hepatobiliary scintigraphy, ultrasonography and contrast cholangiography. Of 16 patients with confirmed common bile duct obstruction, sonography and scintigraphy disagreed in 8(50%). Scintigraphy revealed partial or complete common bile duct obstruction in 13 patients (81.3%) and 6 of them had no evidence of dilated biliary trees. It is concluded that disagreement between sonography and scintigraphy is not rare in patients with acute or intermittent biliary obstruction and hepatobiliary scintigraphy is useful in diagnosing obstruction prior to ductal dilatation.