CHOLEDOCHAL CYSTS

Aswad Habeeb Hameed Al-Obeidy

FICMS GE & Hep

CHOLEDOCHAL CYSTS

Congenital anomalies of the biliary tract that manifest as cystic dilatation of the extrahepatic and intrahepatic bile ducts

The incidence rate of choledochal cysts is 1 in 13,000 to 15,000 in Western countries and as high as 1 in 1000 in Japan

These cysts are not familial Females are more commonly affected than males Cases have been described in utero and in elderly

patients Approximately two thirds of patients come to

medical attention before age 10 years

Classification The classification proposed by Todani and colleagues Several varieties of type I cysts, accounting for 80% to 90% of

cases Exhibit segmental or diffuse fusiform dilatation of the common

bile duct Ia, common type; Ib, segmental dilatation; Ic, diffuse dilatation Type II cysts consist of a true choledochal diverticulum Type III cysts consist of dilatation of the intraduodenal portion

of the common bile duct, or choledochocele Type IV cysts may be subdivided into type IVa, multiple

intrahepatic and extrahepatic cysts, and type IVb, multiple extrahepatic cysts

V, or Caroli's disease, which consists of a single or multiple dilatations of the intrahepatic ductal system, should be viewed as a form of choledochal cyst is not settled

Etiology The cause of choledochal cysts has not been established Congenital weakness of the bile duct wall, a primary

abnormality of epithelial proliferation during embryologic ductal development

Congenital obstruction of bile ducts have been suggested A relationship to other obstructive cholangiopathies, such as

biliary atresia, has been proposed but not proven Reovirus RNA has been detected by reverse transcriptase–

polymerase chain reaction methodology in hepatic or biliary tissues of 78%

A high frequency (40%) of an anomalous junction of the pancreatic and common bile ducts

         

Pathology The cysts are composed of a fibrous wall There may be no epithelial lining or a low columnar epithelium Mild chronic inflammation may be present Complete, in-flammatory obstruction of the terminal portion of

the common bile duct is common in infants who have a choledochal cyst

Liver histology in the affected neonate shows typical features of large duct obstruction

Portal tract edema, bile ductular proliferation, and fibrosis may be prominent

A pattern of biliary cirrhosis may be observed in older patients with long-standing biliary obstruction

Carcinoma of the cyst wall may occur by adolescence

Clinical Features Disease often appears during the first months of life As many as 80% of patients have cholestatic jaundice and

acholic stools Vomiting, irritability, and failure to thrive may occur Physical examination shows hepatomegaly and, in

approximately one half of patients, a palpable abdominal mass Spontaneous perforation of a choledochal cyst may occur In older patients, epigastric pain, which may result from

pancreatitis, is the most common symptom Intermittent jaundice and fever may result from recurrent

episodes of cholangitis The classic triad, consisting of abdominal pain, jaundice, and a

palpable abdominal mass, is observed in less than 20% of patients

Diagnosis The diagnosis of a choledochal cyst is best established with

ultrasonography Several reports have demonstrated that antenatal

ultrasonography can be used to detect a choledochal cyst in the fetus

Sequential ultrasonographic examinations have allowed study of the evolution of choledochal cysts during pregnancy

In the older child, percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography or ERCP may help define the anatomic features of the cyst

MRCP is being used increasingly to evaluate the extent of the cyst and defects within the biliary tree and to detect an anomalous junction of the pancreaticobiliary ducts

In practice, most pediatric surgeons rely on an operative cholangiogram to define the extent of intrahepatic and extrahepatic disease

Treatment

Preferred treatment for choledochal cyst is surgical excision of the cyst with reconstruction of the extrahepatic biliary tree

Biliary drainage is usually accomplished by a choledochojejunostomy with a Roux-en-Y anastomosis

Excision of the cyst reduces bile stasis and the risk of cholangitis and malignancy

Simple decompression and internal drainage should be done only when the complicated anatomic characteristics do not allow complete excision

Long-term follow-up is essential, because recurrent cholangitis, lithiasis, anastomotic stricture, and pancreatitis may develop years after the initial operation

Caroli's Disease Caroli's disease is a subtype of choledochal cyst characterized by

diffuse intrahepatic dilatation Classically segmental and saccular and is associated with stone

formation and recurrent bacterial cholangitis May manifest as cholangitis, abscesses, jaundice, or cirrhosis A more common type, Caroli's syndrome, is associated with a portal

tract lesion typical of CHF Renal disease occurs in both forms, renal tubular ectasia occurs with

the simple form, and both conditions can be associated with autosomal recessive polycystic renal disease

The gene encodes a large protein (4074 amino acids), which has been called fibrocystin to reflect the main structural abnormalities in liver and kidney

The intrahepatic cysts are in continuity with the biliary tract and are lined by epithelium that may be ulcerated and hyperplastic

The cysts may contain inspissated bile, calculi, and purulent material

Caroli's Disease During childhood and adolescence because of hepatomegaly and

abdominal pain The disorder appears in the neonate as renal disease or cholestasis Stagnation of bile, leading to formation of biliary sludge and

intraductal lithiasis Fever and intermittent jaundice may occur during episodes of

bacterial cholangitis Hepatospleno-megaly is found in cases associated with CHF; affected

patients may exhibit bleeding esophageal varices Ultrasonography, MRC, and computed tomography are of great value

Percutaneous or endoscopic cholangiography usually demonstrates a normal common duct with segmental, saccular dilatations of the intrahepatic bile ducts

Hepatic resection is indicated for disease limited to a single lobe Therapy with ursodeoxycholic acid, 10 to 15 mg/kg/day in individual

doses Liver transplantation is an option in pati-ents who have extensive

disease and frequent complications