['Triangular Cord' Sign in Biliary Atresia]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric surgery
• Diagnostic imaging
• Hepatobiliary disease

Context:

• Biliary atresia is a neonatal cholestatic condition causing extrahepatic bile duct obstruction.
• The "fibrous ductal remnant" in the porta hepatis is a key pathological finding.
• The sonographic "triangular cord" (TC) sign is a potential indicator of this remnant.

Purpose:

• To review the definition and objective criteria for the sonographic triangular cord (TC) sign.
• To analyze the diagnostic accuracy of the TC sign in biliary atresia.
• To explore the differential diagnosis of the TC sign in pediatric liver disease.

Summary:

• This review correlates surgical and pathological findings with sonographic observations of the porta hepatis in biliary atresia.
• It focuses on the "triangular cord" (TC) sign, evaluating its definition, diagnostic criteria, accuracy, and differential diagnoses.
• Understanding the TC sign aids in differentiating biliary atresia from other causes of neonatal jaundice.

Impact:

• Improved diagnostic accuracy for biliary atresia using the triangular cord sign.
• Enhanced understanding of the correlation between imaging and surgical pathology.
• Facilitates earlier diagnosis and intervention for infants with biliary atresia.