[Studies on cholangiographic and endoscopic findings of primary intrahepatic cholesterol stones]

Cholangiographic investigations in 16 patients with primary intrahepatic cholesterol stones yielded some characteristic findings as follows. 1. Several numbers of stones were filled within locally dilated portion of the subsegmental or more peripheral intrahepatic bile duct branches, with no or minimal dilatation of the more peripheral portion and no stenosis-like lesions of the more hilar portion. 2. The lesion was single or multiple scattered in the liver and intrahepatic cholangiogram excluding involved segments was almost normal. 3. Although extrahepatic bile duct and/or gallbladder stones were often associated, the normal gallbladder, cystic duct and papillary portion and slightly dilated common bile duct were demonstrated. These cholangiographic findings were compatible with the endoscopic findings that inflammatory changes of the bile duct were rarely observed. According to above mentioned findings, it is suggested that the etiology of this disease differs from intrahepatic stones of calcium bilirubinate and dissolution therapy with bile acid may be available.