Long-term percutaneous biliary drainage in an infant with hemangioendothelioma.

A 5-month-old female infant with jaundice (bilirubin = 11) and dilated intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts was explored. A 3-cm mass in the head of the pancreas and portal region completely obstructed the cystic and common bile ducts. Cholecystectomy was done and biopsy of the tumor and regional nodes revealed hemangioendothelioma with no nodal involvement. After tissue diagnosis was made, the infant's biliary tract was decompressed percutaneously. External drainage was maintained for 22 months until the tumor regressed. This infant is the youngest patient ever reported to undergo percutaneous biliary drainage.