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Dilatation of the cystic duct in patients with obstructive jaundice
1First Department of Internal Medicine, Akita University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo, Akita-City, Akita 010-8543, Japan.
Background:
It is well known that obstructive jaundice causes biliary dilatation, but sonographic (US) findings of the cystic duct in patients with obstructive jaundice are rarely reported.
Methods:
We reviewed US findings in 25 such patients.
Results:
US findings of dilated cystic duct could be divided roughly into two patterns: tortuous and tubular. The former pattern was a tortuously dilated cystic duct arising from the gallbladder neck, running predominantly deeply, turning anteromedially, and then joining the posterior face of the common hepatic duct. The latter pattern was a straight dilated cystic duct running parallel with the common hepatic duct, giving the appearance of a septated bile duct.
Conclusion:
A better understanding of the US findings of dilated cystic duct translates into improved biliary US diagnosis.