Pancreatic pseudocyst with fistula to the common bile duct: radiological diagnosis and management

Pancreatic pseudocyst with fistula to the dilated common bile duct: Mimmicking choledocal cyst?

We present a rare case of a fistula between a pancreatic pseudocyst and the bile duct with saccular dilatation that appeared to be a type I choledocal cyst. There are only 19 described cases in the consulted bibliography. The patient was studied with an ultrasound, CT and MRCP and later surgically intervened. A resection was performed of the extrahepatic biliary and hepaticojejunostomy. There was a subsequent good evolution.

Uncommon acquired fistulae involving the digestive system: summary of data

PURPOSE

Most gastrointestinal fistulae commonly occur following surgery. A minority is caused by a myriad of other etiologies and is termed by some as "uncommon fistulae". The aim of this study was to review these fistulae and their treatment.

METHODS

A literature review was carried out. Searches were conducted in Pubmed and related references reviewed.

RESULTS

Except for Crohn's disease and diverticulitis, "uncommon fistulae" are described in case reports or very small case series. Most of the patients were treated by surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

The anatomic features of the fistula and the etiology usually dictate the approach. Most patients will eventually need surgery to resolve this pathology.

Pancreatic pseudocyst with fistula to the common bile duct resolved by combined biliary and pancreatic stenting--a case report and literature review

Pancreatic pseudocysts develop in 10% to 20% of patients with chronic pancreatitis, and can cause a variety of complications such as infection, bleeding or development of fistulae. However, fistulous communication with the common bile duct is very rare. The present report describes an unusual case of a patient with a large, symptomatic pancreatic pseudocyst with a fistula to the common bile duct that was treated successfully by combined biliary and pancreatic stenting.

Pancreaticobiliary fistula evident after ESWL treatment of pancreatolithiasis

Here we report a patient with a pancreaticobiliary fistula that was possibly associated with pancreatolithiasis. He was admitted due to mild pancreatitis. Pancreatolithiasis was revealed in the parenchyma of the head region and in the main pancreatic duct of the pancreas body with distal dilatation. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) effectively eliminated the pancreatic stones; however, an apparent internal fistula from the middle portion of the common bile duct (CBD) to the main pancreatic duct was revealed where the parenchymal stones had been located. The patient was considered to be in the same condition as pancreato-biliary malunion without CBD dilatation, and was treated with laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Biliopancreatic fistula with portal vein thrombosis caused by a pancreatic pseudocyst

We encountered a very rare case of biliopancreatic fistula with portal vein thrombosis caused by pancreatic pseudocyst. A 57-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of abdominal pain, obstructive jaundice, and portal vein thrombosis due to acute pancreatitis. Computed tomography showed a 7-cm-diameter pseudocyst around the superior mesenteric vein extending towards the pancreatic head, dilatation of the intrahepatic bile duct, and portal vein thrombosis. Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography revealed a main pancreatic duct with a pseudocyst communicating with the common bile duct. After pancreatic sphincterotomy, a 7-F tube stent was endoscopically placed into the pseudocyst. However, a 6-F nasobiliary tube could not be inserted into the bile duct because the fistula had a tight stenosis. Subsequently, the patient's abdominal pain improved, the pancreatic cyst disappeared, and the serum amylase level normalized. Two months after the endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage was required because the patient's jaundice became aggravated. Two weeks after the choledochojejunostomy, the patient left the hospital in good condition. A follow-up computed tomography showed cavernous transformation of the portal vein and no pancreatic pseudocyst. The patient remains asymptomatic for 2 years and 7 months after surgery. Biliary drainage may be necessary for biliopancreatic fistula with obstructive jaundice in addition to pancreatic cyst drainage. Biliopancreatic fistula can be treated by endoscopic procedure in some cases; however, surgical treatment should be required in cases that are impossible to insert a biliary stent because of hard stricture.

Sonographic diagnosis and endoscopic therapy of a biliopancreatic fistula complicating a pancreatic pseudocyst

This is the first report of a case of biliopancreatic fistula complicating a pancreatic pseudocyst diagnosed correctly by transabdominal ultrasound. The diagnosis was confirmed by magnetic resonance and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. The fistula was treated successfully with biliary stenting. The clinical and imaging features of this exceptional complication are presented along with a brief review of the topic.

Biliary pancreatic portal fistula as a complication of chronic pancreatitis: a case report with review of the literature

In this study we describe an unusual complication in a patient suffering from chronic calcifying pancreatitis. The patient had a fistula between the common bile duct, the pancreatic duct, and the portal vein. He received supportive medical treatment and achieved long-term survival. A review of the literature including diagnosis, treatment and outcome of this rare complication is presented.