[Congenital cystic bile duct dilatation. Presentation of clinical symptoms, diagnostic possibilities and therapy based on 6 cases].

BACKGROUND AND

METHODS

Congenital cystic dilatation of the bile ducts represents an uncommon anomaly of the biliary system. We report on 6 patients suffering from cystic biliary duct dilatations which were treated in our hospital between 1980 and 1992. Clinical signs included upper abdominal pain, white or clay-colored stool, icterus and/or palpable tumor. According to the classification of Todani, 4 children had type Ia cysts, 1 child a type Va cyst and 1 child a type Ia cyst with extrahepatic biliary atresia.

RESULTS

Among the diagnostic methods sonography is preeminent and permitted demonstration of intra- and extrahepatic biliary duct dilatations in all of our patients. In 2 patients small cystic dilatations could be distinguished from hepatic vessels by colour-coded Doppler sonography.

CONCLUSION

The treatment of choice is the resection of the dilated extrahepatic biliary ducts followed by hepaticojejunostomy using the Roux-en-Y-technique.