[Intra-duodenal development of low choledochal diverticula. Apropos of 2 cases]

Two cases of intraduodenal development of a low choledochal diverticulum were observed during the last ten years. Preoperative diagnosis of this biliary malformation is difficult. Clinical presentation consisted of chronic upper abdominal pain and high gastrointestinal obstruction, without either cholangitis or pancreatitis. In both patients, treatment consisted of resection of the diverticulum and suture of its neck via a transduodenal approach. The post-operative course was uneventful and long-term follow-up (2 and 11 years) is satisfactory, showing that cure has been achieved by means of this simple and radical procedure. This particular biliary anomaly must therefore be distinguished from other diverticula of the common bile duct, because of its clinical presentation, diagnostic approach and treatment required.