Solitary cystic dilatation of the intrahepatic bile duct

J Clin Pathol. 1997 Jul;50(7):617-8. doi: 10.1136/jcp.50.7.617.

Abstract

A 31 year old man was hospitalised with general fatigue and epigastric pain. Abdominal ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging showed a cystic lesion in the left lobe of the liver. Endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography and percutaneous trans-hepatic cholangiography revealed a localised dilatation of the intrahepatic bile duct without any obstruction. However, a large mass of mucinous material was noted in the saccular intrahepatic duct and the common bile duct. There was no evidence of a choledochal cyst, anomalous pancreaticobiliary ductal union, or congenital cystic change of the kidneys. A possible diagnosis of mucinous cystic neoplasm of the intrahepatic bile duct was made and a left hepatectomy performed. Cholangiography of the resected specimen showed a non-obstructive solitary cystic dilatation of the left hepatic duct. Histologically, the dilated duct was lined with columnar biliary epithelium without any papillary proliferation and/or atypia. Neither malignancy nor hepatic fibrosis was observed; the term "solitary cystic dilatation of the intrahepatic bile duct" perhaps is more descriptive and the concept easier to understand.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bile Duct Diseases / diagnosis
  • Bile Duct Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / diagnostic imaging
  • Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / pathology*
  • Cysts / diagnosis*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Dilatation, Pathologic / diagnosis
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Radiography