Surgical management of choledochal cyst: status quo and hot issues

Abstract

Choledochal cyst is one of the most common congenital diseases in biliary tract system,which can affect children as well as adults. While the surgical management has markedly evolved in recent years,our understanding related to the nomenclature,diagnosis and classification of choledochal cysts remains to be inadequate. Anatomic variations and intrahepatic bile duct stricture are prone to be overlooked during surgery. Besides,it is still controversial in the treatment of intrapancreatic choledochal cyst and the extent of resection related to intrahepatic dilated bile ducts. Along with the advancement of laparoscopic or robot-assisted procedures,there is also an increased number of reoperations for patients with choledochal cyst,which underscores the importance of long-term biliary patency. This state-of-the-art review on choledochal cyst aims to further improve the diagnosis and treatment for this benign but intractable disease.