Common bile duct lesions - how cholangioscopy helps rule out intraductal papillary neoplasms of the bile duct: A case report

Background: Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB) is a rare variant of bile duct tumors, characterized by an exophytic growth exhibiting a papillary mass within the bile duct lumen and it can be localized anywhere along the biliary tree, with morphological variations and occasional invasion.

Case summary: We present a patient with obstructive jaundice who was diagnosed with IPNB using cholangioscopy during endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography. Using the SpyGlass DS II technology, we were able to define tumor extension and obtain targeted Spy-byte biopsies. After multidisciplinary evaluation, the patient was scheduled for surgical resection of the tumor, which was radically removed.

Conclusion: Cholangioscopy appears to be crucial for the rapid and clear diagnosis of lesions in the bile duct to achieve radical surgical resection.