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Incidental ultrasound finding of cholelithiasis in an 8-week-old infant: A case report
Edmund Kwadwo Kwakye Brakohiapa1, Wihelmina Brown2, Emmanuel Kobina Mesi Edzie3
1Department of Radiology, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra, Ghana.
Insights
Infantile cholelithiasis, or gallstones in infants, is rare and often found incidentally during ultrasounds. This case highlights its detection in an infant with jaundice, emphasizing the role of modern imaging.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Gastroenterology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Infantile cholelithiasis is an uncommon condition, frequently asymptomatic and self-limiting.
- Diagnosis often occurs incidentally during abdominal ultrasonography for unrelated issues.
- Prolonged neonatal or infantile jaundice can be a presenting symptom in rare cases.
Observation:
- A case report details an 8-week-old male infant diagnosed with infantile cholelithiasis.
- The infant presented with conjugated hyperbilirubinemia and pigmented stools.
- Diagnosis was made via abdominal ultrasound at a unit in Accra, Ghana.
Findings:
- The ultrasound revealed infantile cholelithiasis, a rare finding in this age group.
- The infant had a history of jaundice from the first day of life.
- The condition was discovered during an examination for conjugated hyperbilirubinemia.
Implications:
- Modern sonographic equipment enhances the detection of incidental infantile cholelithiasis.
- Improved detection may lead to more effective management strategies for this rare condition.
- This case underscores the importance of considering infantile cholelithiasis in jaundiced infants.
Abstract:
Infantile cholelithiasis is a rare occurrence. It is often diagnosed incidentally during ultrasonography for other conditions as most cases are asymptomatic and may be self-limiting. A few cases may however present with prolonged neonatal or infantile jaundice. We report our initial experience with an incidental case of infantile cholelithiasis in an 8-week-old male infant who was brought to our ultrasound unit in Accra, Ghana, for an abdominal ultrasound on account of conjugated hyperbilirubinemia and pigmented stools. The patient had presented initially at the children's emergency unit of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, 2 days after an uneventful delivery, with a history of yellowing of the eyes, noticed on the first day of life, which necessitated the request for the ultrasound examination, leading to this rare finding of infantile cholelithiasis. The availability and use of modern sonographic equipment are likely to result in more effective detection of this incidental finding and its subsequent management.
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