Agenesis of the extrahepatic bile ducts: report of five cases

Five patients were encountered in whom agenesis either of the proximal extrahepatic biliary ducts (four patients) or total absence of the extrahepatic bile ducts and gall bladder (one patient) were evaluated. Jaundice was diagnosed from at birth to 3 weeks of age (average, 1.2 weeks of age) in these five patients. The patients' ages ranged from 2 to 8 weeks at the time of surgical exploration. Findings at surgery showed either absence of the entire extrahepatic biliary ducts or proximal bile duct remnants, no evidence of an inflammatory process, and no fibrous mass present at the portahepatis. Liver biopsy specimens showed histological evidence of cholestasis, minimal bile duct proliferation and fibrosis, and nearly complete absence of inflammation. In three patients in whom a portocholecystostomy was performed, no bile flow was obtained. Two patients underwent surgical exploration and liver biopsy only. One patient died as a result of severe congenital heart disease at 3 months of age. Four patients have undergone successful hepatic transplantation. These patients are now 10 months to 6 years of age. In our review of the literature, we were unable to find any reports of bile duct agenesis despite the fact that it appears to be a known phenomenon. We conclude that patients with biliary agenesis have early onset of jaundice when compared with patients with biliary atresia, absence of inflammation at the portahepatis at the time of surgical exploration, as well as on biopsy of the liver. Portoenterostomy or portocholecystostomy are likely to fail. We believe that liver transplantation is the treatment of choice for this rare entity.