Spontaneous external biliary fistula arising from an intrahepatic duct

A spontaneous external biliary fistula is most commonly a cholecystocutaneous fistula secondary to acute cholecystitis. A fistula arising from an intrahepatic duct is extremely rare. An 87-year-old man presented with swelling of the epigastric region and right upper quadrant abdomen. He had a history of cholecystectomy and endoscopic sphincterotomy. After antibiotic treatment and surgical opening of both lesions, abdominal computed tomography demonstrated a soft tissue mass cephalad to the umbilicus. We excised the mass, and found it to be associated with a fistula through the linea alba. Fistulography showed an abscess cavity communicating with the intrahepatic duct in segment III. Histopathological examination of the mass showed an abscess without malignancy. The fistula closed spontaneously without laparotomy. In this case, the underlying pathology was considered to be associated with a subcapsular hepatic cyst in segment III.