Double common bile duct with choledochal cyst and cholelithiasis: report of a case

Type Vb Double Common Bile Duct: A Rare Case Associated With Cholangiocarcinoma

Double common bile duct (DCBD), also called extrahepatic biliary duct duplication, is a rare anatomical variation of the biliary anatomy that involves either the presence of a septum within the common bile duct (CBD) or an accessory CBD. The first case of DCBD was reported by Vesarius in 1543. A classification system for DCBD that included five types was proposed in 2007. Type V DCBD involves a duplicated extrahepatic bile duct with common drainage of both ducts into the duodenum and can be further divided into type Va, where there are no communicating channels, and type Vb, where there are one or more communicating channels. By 2021, only eight cases of type V DCBD had been reported, of which only two were type Vb DCBDs. As far as we know, this is the third reported case of type Vb DCBD. In addition to choledocholithiasis, cholangitis, and pancreatitis, DCBD has been associated with an increased risk of malignancies such as cholangiocarcinoma and upper gastrointestinal tract cancers. Here, we present a case of a 28-year-old female with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma undergoing chemotherapy who was referred to our hospital for evaluation of worsening jaundice and suspicion of infected percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) drain. After extensive investigation, she was found to have a type Vb DCBD, which meant that her PTC drain was only providing partial therapy for her biliary obstruction. Following the placement of metal stents in both CBDs, her jaundice resolved, allowing her to continue her chemotherapy regimen. In conclusion, this case highlights one of the rarest bile duct anatomical variations, a type Vb DCBD, as well as the importance of evaluating young cholangiocarcinoma patients with magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) for the presence of a DCBD, especially when they present with worsening jaundice despite receiving appropriate therapy. These patients require stenting of both CBDs to properly address their biliary obstruction.

An unusual variant of type I common bile duct duplication associated with ampullary carcinoma

Common bile duct duplications represent exceptionally rare congenital anomalies of the biliary tract. In this case report we document an unusual variant of common bile duct duplication in a 79-year-old man who underwent a pancreaticoduodenectomy for ampullary cancer. The duplication consisted of two unseparated, completely-layered, common bile ducts which originated above the cystic duct junction and terminated prior to the point of insertion into the pancreas, where the two lumens converged into a single duct. Duplication of the bile duct is rare and often goes undetected. In the present case, the anomaly was found incidentally in a patient who had a pancreaticoduodenectomy for an ampullary carcinoma. However, duplication may be associated with choledocholithiasis, cholangitis, pancreatitis, and pancreaticobiliary malignancies and it is important to be aware of the condition.

Type Va Duplication of the Common Bile Duct With Type IIIa Intrahepatic Bile Duct Anatomy: A Rare Combination of Dual Biliary Ductal Anomaly With Difficulty to Extract Common Bile Duct Stone

Extrahepatic duplication of the common bile duct (CBD) is an extremely rare anatomic variation seen in the biliary tract. It represents failure of regression of the primitive duplicated biliary ductal system, resulting in five different subtypes of the duplicated CBD as described by Choi et al. To date, only few such cases have been reported in the literature. Associated variation in branching of intrahepatic bile ducts presenting as combined dual ductal anomaly is even rarer phenomena to be seen. We report a case of a 67-year-old man with chronic kidney disease and obstructive jaundice resulting from choledocholithiasis. Evaluation revealed type IIIa branching of intrahepatic bile ducts with type Va duplication of the CBD.

Evaluation and Pathologic Classification of Choledochal Cysts: Clinicopathologic Analysis of 84 Cases From the West

Choledochal cyst (CC) is believed to be a mostly Asian disorder. As a clinically defined entity, its pathologic correlates are poorly characterized. Eighty-four resected CCs from the West were reanalyzed. After applying established Japanese criteria, 9/66 with available imaging were disqualified and 10/39 with preoperative cyst typing had to be recategorized. None had been diagnosed with, or evaluated for, pancreatobiliary maljunction, but on retrospective analysis of radiologic images, 12/66 were found to have pancreatobiliary maljunction. The clinical findings were: F/M=5.7; mean age, 48; most (77%) presented with abdominal pain; mean size, 2.9 cm; choledocholithiasis 11%. Gross/histologic examination revealed 3 distinct pathology-based categories: (I) Cystic dilatation of native ducts (81%). (II) Double bile duct (13%), almost all of which were found in women (10/11); all were diagnosed by pathologic examination, and not preoperative diagnosis. (III) Gastrointestinal (GI) duplication type (6%). Microscopic findings of the entire cohort included mucosal-predominant lymphoplasmacytic inflammation (50%), follicular cholangitis (7%), mucosal hyperplasia (43%; 13% with papillae), intestinal metaplasia (10%), BilIN-like hyperplasia (17%), erosion/ulceration (13%), and severe dysplasia-mimicking atypia including "detachment atypia" and micropapillary degeneration (11%). Carcinomatous changes were seen in 14 cases (17%) (high-grade dysplasia/carcinoma in situ in 7, intraductal papillary neoplasm 1, and invasive carcinoma 6); and 13/14 of these occurred in pathologic category I, all with cyst size >1 cm. In conclusion, diagnostic imaging guidelines used in Asia are not routinely used (but should be adopted) in the West. Pathologically, cases designated as CC are classifiable in 3 groups: category 1 (dilated native duct type), more prone to carcinomatous change; category 2, double-duct phenomenon (all but 1 being female in this study); and category 3, GI-type duplication. Overall, 17% of CCs show carcinomatous change (50% of them invasive). CC specimens should be carefully examined with this classification and submitted entirely for assessment of at-risk mucosa and cancerous transformation.

Duplication of the common bile duct manifesting as recurrent pyogenic cholangitis: A case report

BACKGROUND

Duplication of the extrahepatic bile duct (DCBD) is an extremely rare congenital anomaly of the biliary system. There are five types of DCBD according to the latest classification. Among them, Type V is characterized by single drainage of the extrahepatic bile ducts. Reports on DCBD Type V are scarce.

CASE SUMMARY

A 77-year-old woman presented with recurrent epigastric pain but without fever or chills. Computed tomography revealed a dilated common bile duct (CBD) that harboured multiple choledocholithiasis. Endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) was performed, and the stones were extracted using a Dormia basket. She was discharged without any complications; however, she visited the emergency department a day after she was discharged due to epigastric pain and fever. Laboratory findings were suggestive of cholestasis. After urgent ERCP for stone removal, magnetic resonance cholangiopancrea-tography was performed to evaluate remnant choledocholithiasis. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography revealed a DCBD Type Va and remnant choledocholithiasis in the right CBD. Both CBDs were accessed, and the stones were cleared successfully during a subsequent ERCP.

CONCLUSION

In this article, we report an extremely rare case of DCBD manifesting as recurrent pyogenic cholangitis. This case highlights the importance of recognizing DCBD because stones in the unrecognized bile duct could make the patient’s prognosis critical.

Successful diagnosis and treatment of double common bile duct with cholelithiasis by laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Double common bile duct (DCBD) is an extremely rare congenital anomaly of the biliary system associated with serious complications. An association between DCBD and inadvertent bile duct injury during surgery has been reported. However, DCBD is difficult to diagnose preoperatively. We report a rare case of DCBD (type 3b), combined with cholelithiasis and cholecystitis, diagnosed preoperatively, and treated safely by laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A 79-year-old woman was admitted with a 1-week history of chest pain. Abdominal computed tomography revealed gallbladder distension with obvious wall thickening. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was planned to determine the presence of stones in the common bile duct and an anomalous biliary tract. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) was performed, and anomalous anatomy of the biliary tract was suspected. Drip infusion cholangiography with computed tomography (DIC-CT) showed type 3b DCBD. On hospital day 7, laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed without accessory common bile duct resection. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 5. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the successful diagnosis of DCBD using DIC-CT. MRCP and DIC-CT can be useful for the pre-operative diagnosis of DCBD to decrease the risk of bile duct injury during surgery.

A new variant of double common bile duct associated with choledochal cyst

Extrahepatic bile duct duplication is a rare biliary anomaly often associated with conditions like cholecysto-choledocholithiasis, choledochal cyst and malignancy. Precise preoperative diagnosis using conventional radiologic imaging still remains a challenge and use of existing classification system is equally confusing. A female patient diagnosed with choledochal cyst by magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography was found to have an associated new variant of double common bile duct during surgery. The variant discovered could not be classified by existing classification systems and was missed by preoperative imaging. Recognition of existence of this anomaly that warrants careful dissection during biliary surgery is necessary to avoid inadvertent biliary injury as preoperative diagnosis still remains a challenge. Review of existing classification systems is required to include newly discovered variants.

The Double Trouble: A Case of Duplicated Extrahepatic Bile Duct with Choledochal Cyst

Biliary tract shows a large number of anatomic variations and duplication of the bile duct is an extremely rare anomaly. It has been reported to be associated with other congenital conditions like Abnormal Pancreato Biliary Junction (APBJ), biliary atresia and choledochal cyst and may lead to complications like cholangitis, choledocholithiasis and malignancy. The clinical presentation may be with one of the above complications and the condition usually reveals itself only on imaging investigations, as a surprise to the radiologist and the surgeon. Its detection is important prior to any biliary tract surgery to prevent inadvertent bile duct injury. The authors report a case of a rare subtype of extrahepatic bile duct duplication with coexisting choledochal cyst.

Rare Anomaly of Common Bile Duct in Association with Distal Cholangiocarcinoma

Duplication of common bile duct is a rare entity and its association with distal cholangiocarcinoma is extremely rare. It represents failure of regression of the embryological double biliary system. Here, we describe the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of a type I variant of the extrahepatic bile duct duplication coexistent with distal cholangiocarcinoma that was diagnosed intraoperatively while treating with Whipple procedure for distal cholangiocarcinoma.

Duplication of the extrahepatic bile duct: A case report and review of the literatures

RATIONALE

Duplication of the extrahepatic bile duct is an extremely rare congenital anomaly of the biliary system.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 44-year-old woman presented with a history of continuous upper abdominal pain and vomiting.

DIAGNOSES

Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) disclosed diffuse dilatation of the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) showed the presence of two extrahepatic bile ducts with calculus at the distal end of the CBD.

INTERVENTIONS

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) was performed after an ERCP. Choledochoscopy, performed during the operation, showed duplicated common bile duct and the cystic duct was seen opening at the right side of the extrahepatic duct.

OUTCOMES

The patient was doing well after 6 months of follow-up.

LESSONS

We reported a case of a double common duct with choledocholithiasis and gallstone. This rare anomaly may lead to cholangitis, common bile duct injury during surgery, malignancy occurrence, and should be treated with extreme care.

Duplicated common bile duct: a recipe for biliary injury. Report of a new variant

Duplicated common bile duct, often associated with conditions like lithiasis, biliary cysts and pancreatobiliary maljunction, could result in highly morbid and potentially fatal biliary injuries. Precise preoperative diagnosis and classification still remain a challenge. A female patient undergoing emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute calculous cholecystitis sustained iatrogenic bile duct injury. A drainage tube was placed into the injured duct for post-operative conservative management. Post-operative tube cholangiogram revealed a double common bile duct with cystic duct opening distally. This was identified as a new variant not previously reported or classified. However rare, duplicated common bile duct could result in serious iatrogenic bile duct injury if unidentified during surgery. Knowledge of its existence is essential to avoid such injuries as preoperative diagnosis still remains a challenge. A thorough clinical and morphological study of previously reported variants is needed for a comprehensive classification to encompass newly discovered variants.

Common bile duct duplication: the more the murkier

Congenital duplication of the common bile duct is an extremely rare anomaly of the biliary tract, which putatively represents failure of regression of the embryological double biliary system. Depending on the morphology of the duplicated bile duct, the anomaly can be classified into five distinct subtypes as per the modified classification (proposed by Choi et al). Among the five subtypes of bile duct duplication, type V duplication is considered to be the least common with only two previous cases of type Va variant reported in medical literature prior to the current report.