Neonatal diagnosis of biliary atresia: a practical review and update

Biliary atresia is challenging to diagnose because many of the clinical and imaging features of this condition overlap with those of other causes of cholestasis in newborns. When jaundice persists beyond 2 weeks of age, the neonate should be evaluated for cholestasis, and biliary atresia - the most common cause of neonatal cholestasis - should be considered. It is critical to diagnose biliary atresia early because failure to treat can result in hepatic fibrosis and death in less than 1 year. In this paper, we review the current diagnostic imaging methods, differential considerations and treatment options for biliary atresia.