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Development of intrahepatic cholelithiasis long after primary excision of choledochal cysts
K Uno1, Y Tsuchida, H Kawarasaki
1Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Tokyo, Japan.
Background:
Biliary stricture with dilatation is a putative cause of intrahepatic bile duct stones. However, this hypothesis has never been proved.
Study Design:
Fifty-six patients had operative cholangiography, underwent standard excision of a choledochal cyst, and were reviewed at follow-up clinics at a mean follow-up time of 13 years and 6 months. The incidence of complications such as intrahepatic cholelithiasis was analyzed according to the morphologic types of the intrahepatic bile ducts as observed at the initial operation.
Results:
Group 1 patients (29 cases) did not show any dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts. Intrahepatic cholelithiasis developed in only one case (3 percent). In group 2 (24 cases), the intrahepatic bile ducts were dilated but not associated with any downstream stenosis. One patient (4 percent) suffered from intrahepatic cholelithiasis. Group 3 patients (3 cases) had dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts associated with downstream stenosis, and none of them was free from the development of intrahepatic biliary stones (3 cases).
Conclusions:
Patients with biliary dilatation with stricture of the intrahepatic bile ducts are most likely to develop intrahepatic cholelithiasis after surgical excision of a choledochal cyst, and their stenosis should be relieved by whatever means feasible at initial operation.