[Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) in congenital cystic biliary anomalies (author's transl)]

Cystic anomalies of the bile duct are rare conditions found mostly in the younger age groups and four times more frequently in women than in men. The introduction of retrograde contrast filling of the bile ducts has led to a marked improvement in the pre-operative diagnosis. Precise demonstration of the anatomical relationships is of the utmost importance for surgical intervention. A number of variants of cystic bile duct anomalies must be differentiated from double gall bladders, bile duct fistulas, pancreatic cysts and pseudocysts; small cysts (type IV) must be distinguished from the autoimmune form of cholangitis-pericholangitis and from acquired generalised bile duct dilatation. The prognosis of cystic biliary anomalies is determined by the complications of these conditions. These include ascending cholangitis, stone formation and malignant change.