BILIARY CYSTS

Video-laparoscopic treatment of a sizeable cyst of the cystic duct: a case report

A case of cystic dilation isolated from the cystic duct is described. The patient showed symptoms of chronic calculous cholecystitis; the ultrasonographic examination confirmed the clinical hypothesis and showed a 1.3-cm calculus impacted in the infundibulum of the gallbladder. The hepatic and biliary functions were normal. During surgery, the routine cholangiographic study showed a sizable cyst in the cystic canal, as well as an anomalous duct uniting the cyst to the right hepatic duct. As for the rest of the extrahepatic biliary canal, as well as the intrahepatic canal, nothing abnormal was noticed. The videolaparoscopic treatment consisted of a ligature with a clip of the cystic duct and the anomalous duct plus en bloc resection of the cyst and the gallbladder. Histopathologic study showed it to be a benign cyst and chronic calculous cholecystitis. It is important to establish the site of the cyst precisely before surgery, as the procedure should include its resection, since it could be the source of infection or development of lithiasis and even malignant degeneration. There are two hypotheses for the appearance of cysts in the biliary tract: congenital, due to a flaw in the multiplication of the cells that will form the biliary tract during the fetal life, and by aggression by pancreatic juice flowing back to the main biliary canal. The congenital origin seems to be the hypothesis that better explains the appearance of the cyst in the case described here, considering that the backflow of the pancreatic juice could hardly have occurred because of the anatomy as observed: the nonexistence of the common biliary-pancreatic canal and the valvular mechanism, present in the cystic canal, between the cyst itself and the confluence of the cystic canal into the main biliary canal, in addition to the anomalous biliary canal communicating the cyst to the right intrahepatic canal.

Surgical aspect ot cystic dilatation of the bile duct. An anomalous junction of the pancreaticobiliary tract in adults

Twenty-two cholangiograms of adults with congenital dilatation of the common bile duct were studied and analyzed. Diagnosis of this disease was established by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography in nine patients, by percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography in two patients, and by operative cholangiography in 11 patients. All patients, except one with Caroli's disease, were classified as type I according to Alonso-Lej. An anomalous junction of the pancreaticobiliary ductal system (AJPBDS) was observed in 15 cases. In nine patients the common bile duct joined the main pancreatic duct, and in the remaining six patients, the pancreatic duct was noted to join the common bile duct. These anomalies are considered to be an important etiologic factor in the development of choledochal dilatation. Total cyst excision and hepaticojejunostomy in a Roux-en-Y fashion is recommended as the procedure of choice in those cases with AJPBDS. This is based on the high incidence of cholangitis and the high propensity to induce malignancy of cystic wall following simple drainage.

Choledochal cysts presenting in late childhood and adulthood

Primary excision is well accepted in children. Although the length of follow-up is inadequate, our review of the literature and experience with five patients suggests primary excision as the procedure of choice in older children and adults. Although the number of cases is too small and the follow-up too sporadic to draw statistically valid conclusions, excision has a lower morbidity, mortality and reoperation rate than internal cyst drainage, and definitive removal of tissue at risk for malignant degeneration seems intuitively more appealing.

Congenital choledochal cyst. Analysis of 1,433 patients in the Japanese literature

Five of the author's cases and 1,428 cases from Japan's literature are discussed. Half of the patients were infants. The ratio of men to women was 1 to 3. One hundred fifty-one patients had malformation of the pancreaticobiliary system, which is said to be a cause of congenital choledochal cyst. All of the patients have been followed up. Excision of the cyst is the best procedure for preventing ascending cholangitis and cystic cancer. Roux-Y hepaticojejunostomy is also effective for reconstruction of the bile duct because it rarely causes ascending cholangitis.

Treatment of choledochal cyst by excision

Since 1969 excision of choledochal cyst and establishment of bile drainage by Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy has been performed in 7 children whose ages ranged from 10 mo to 11 yr. In 3 children, the cyst had been treated 5 yr, 4 wk, and 3 wk previously by cystduodenostomy, cystjejunostomy, and cholecystduodenostomy, respectively; further surgery was indicated for biliary obstruction and severe cholangitis. The other four children were not acutely ill. All cysts were located distal to the confluence of the right and left hepatic ducts. The volume of the smallest cyst was 25 ml and the largest 500 ml. In all children a small remnant of distal cyst was not excised to avoid injury to the duodenum and pancreas. In four children a remnant of proximal cyst was left attached to the hepatic duct to allow a large biliary intestinal anastomosis and minimize the possibility of stricture. No serious intraoperative problems were encountered. Prolonged drainage (2-3 wk) from Penrose drain sites in two children were the only postoperative complications. Liver function tests have remained normal in all and no episodes of cholangitis or jaundice have been noted during follow-up (median: 4.5 yr). This experience supports recent reports that indicate that cyst excision is associated with low mortality and morbidity. Cyst excision is preferred over traditional internal drainage procedures because it (A) eliminates a reservoir for bile stasis, (B) removes a mechanism which allows continuous reflux of pancreatic juice into the cyst, and (C) probably prevents the occurrence of bile duct carcinoma which has been noted in 3.0% of patients with choledochal cyst.

Management of congenital choledochal cyst with intrahepatic involvement

The clinical features and surgical treatment of 75 patients with choledochal cysts with intrahepatic involvement (Type IV-A) were evaluated. Seventeen were in this series and 58 were reviewed from the literature. It was of interest that the incidence of Type IV-A choledochal cysts was nearly 30%, considerably higher than had been previously assumed. This type is commonly found in older children and young adults. Abdominal pain and fever indicative of biliary tract infection are more frequent seen than in patients with Type I, and a mass is not commonly palpable. Surgical treatment of Type IV-A must achieve bile drainage from the intrahepatic cysts as well as from the choledochal cyst. For this reason, as well as the prevention of later development of cancer in the wall of the cyst, hepaticoenterostomy at the porta hepatis with partial resection of the wall of the intrahepatic cyst (or partial hepatectomy if possible) combined with excision of the intrahepatic cyst is recommended as the procedure of choice for type IV-A cysts.

Congenital segmental cystic dilatation of the biliary ductal system

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Congenital dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts with cholangiocarcinoma

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas were found at necropsy in two previously reported cases of congenital dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts. The nature of the developmental abnormality is discussed and compared with other forms of biliary dilatation. Slow-flowing bile for many years probably leads to cholangiocarcinoma.

Perforated choledochus cyst

Two cases of perforated choledochus cyst are presented and the literature reviewed. One patient also had cysts of both hepatic ducts and the other hab been followed up for 14 years.

The difficulty of making the diagnosis at laparotomy is stressed and operative cholangiography recommended as a diagnostic aid. A two-stage biliary reconstruction is advised.

Other complications of choledochus cysts are discussed.