Presence Of Bile Duct Dilatation Research Articles

Mucinous cystic neoplasm of the liver: a case report

Abstract A 50-year-old woman was investigated for epigastric pain. Imaging revealed a multilocular cyst with multiple thin septae within segment IV of the liver, measuring up to 140 mm in diameter. There was associated bile duct dilatation. Given the patient’s symptoms, the size of the cyst and malignant potential, a hemi-hepatectomy was performed. Histopathology demonstrated a cyst lined by columnar mucinous epithelium with underlying ovarian-type stroma. Therefore, the diagnosis was mucinous cystic neoplasm of the liver (MCN-L). MCN-L is a rare disease, and the presence of bile duct dilatation is an even rarer finding. This article presents a case report and review of literature of this entity.

Nationwide survey of pancreaticobiliary maljunction focusing on biliary cancer incidence in Japan.

587 Background: Pancreaticobiliary maljunction (PBM) is known to be a unique entity closely related to biliary carcinogenesis. We herein report update analysis of PBM focusing on biliary cancer as third report of Japan-nationwide survey. Methods: From 1990 to 2015, 3,419 patients with PBM were registered at 141 medical institutions in Japan. 3,289 (1,344 pediatric and 1,945 adult patients) out of 3,419 patients were fully investigated, according to presence of bile duct dilatation (BDD), age (pediatric or adult), etc. Results: In pediatric patients, only 3 cases with BDD (0.124%) had bile duct cancers. On the other hand, in adults, biliary cancer incidence was 21.1% in patients with BDD and 43.5% in patients without BDD. The rates were extremely high in comparison with 0.0174% of Japanese prevalence of biliary cancer 2013. The cancer incidences of bile duct, gallbladder and both in adults with BDD/without BDD were 6.7%/4.1%, 13.0%/37.3%, and 1.4%/2.1%, respectively. In patients without associated biliary cancers, extrahepatic bile duct resection (EHBDRx) combined with cholecystectomy was performed in 89.5% of adults with BDD, while, in only 31.2% adults without BDD. Regarding the new biliary cancer occurrence of patients having follow-up data, the rate was 0.3% in 354 patients with BDD who underwent EHBDRx, while that was 4.0% in 75 patients without BDD who underwent simple cholecystectomy. In patients without BDD, cancer incidence (6.7%) in the late period (2010 to 2015) was higher than those (3.3% and 3.5%) in early and middle period (1990 to 1999, and 2000 to 2009). Conclusions: This updated nationwide survey of PBM revealed characteristics of associated and newly occurred biliary cancers, and could be widely used as a reference data for diagnosis and treatment of PBM.

Diagnostic value of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MR cholangiography in non-invasive detection of postoperative bile leakage.

To assess the diagnostic value of dynamic T1 weighted (T1w) gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced MR cholangiography (MRC) for the detection of active bile leaks. A total of 28 patients with suspected biliary leakage who underwent routine T2 weighted (T2w) MRC and T1w GD-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRC at our institution from February 2013 to June 2016 were included in this study. The image sets were retrospectively analyzed in consensus by three radiologists. T1w Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRC findings were correlated with clinical data, follow-up examinations and findings of invasive/surgical procedures. Patients with positive bile leak findings in Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRC were divided into hepatobiliary phase (HBP) (20-30 min) and delayed phase (DP) (60-390 min) group according to elapsed time between Gd-EOB-DTPA injection and initial bile leak findings in MRC images. These groups were compared in terms of laboratory test results (total bilirubin, liver enzymes) and the presence of bile duct dilatation in T2w MRC images. In each patient, visualization of bile ducts was sufficient in the HBP. The accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of dynamic Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced T1w MRC in the detection of biliary leaks were 92.9%, 90.5% and 100%, respectively (p < 0.001). 19 of 28 patients had bile leak findings in T1w Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRC [HBP group: N = 7 (36.8%), DP group: N = 12 (63.2%)]. There was no statistically significant difference in terms of laboratory test results and the presence of bile duct dilatation between HBP and DP group (p > 0.05). Three patients, each of them in DP group, showed normal laboratory test results and bile duct diameters. Dynamic T1w Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRC is a useful non-invasive diagnostic tool to detect bile leak. Advances in knowledge: Prolonged DP imaging may be required for bile leak detection even if visualization of biliary tree is sufficient in HBP and liver function tests, total bilirubin levels and bile duct diameters are normal.

Differentiation of mass-forming intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma from poorly differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma: based on the multivariate analysis of contrast-enhanced computed tomography findings.

We aim to gain further insight into identifying differential radiological features of mass-forming intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (mICC) from poorly differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (pHCC) on contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT). 107 patients with pathologically confirmed mICC (n=48) and pHCC (n=59) who had undergone preoperative contrast-enhanced CT were enrolled. Qualitative analysis of CT images were evaluated for tumor demarcation, shape, presence of satellite nodules, capsular retraction, biliary involvement, intratumoral arteries, tortuous tumoral vessels, vascular invasion, portal vein tumor thrombus, arterial enhancement pattern, portal venous phase enhancement, and washout pattern. Quantitative analysis was performed for mean attenuation of tumor and tumor-to-liver contrast during each phase. The degree of arterial enhancement was graded based on quantitative measurements. A lobulated shape, indistinct margin, peripheral rim enhancement in the arterial phase, and the presence of bile duct dilatation were CT features favoring mICC, whereas a round shape, partially indistinct margin, heterogeneous enhancement in the arterial phase, washout pattern and the presence of tortuous tumoral vessels were CT features favoring pHCC in the univariate analysis (P<0.05). Tumor-to-liver contrast of pHCC was greater than that of mICC during the arterial phase (P=0.015). In the multivariate analysis, bile duct dilatation, tortuous tumoral vessels, and a washout pattern were independent CT features for distinguishing between the two types. (P=0.003, P=0.003, P=0.044, respectively). The absence of a washout pattern and tortuous tumoral vessels and presence of bile duct dilatation are more indicative of mICC than of pHCC on contrast-enhanced CT.

Biliary malignancies: multi-slice CT or MRI?

Cholangiocarcinoma is the most common malignant bile duct and the second most common primary malignant tumor in the liver. It can be classified as intrahepatic (peripheral) or extrahepatic. Extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma originate most often from the main hepatic duct and confluence (referred to as Klatskin tumor). The patients usually present with jaundice because of biliary obstruction. Prognosis of hilar cholangiocarcinoma is poor, because most tumors are not resectable at the time of diagnosis. Surgical exploration should only be undertaken when there is potential for curative resection shown by imaging.ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography) demonstration of Klatskin tumors is often incomplete due to incomplete ductal filling. MR imaging and helical CT are the methods of choice in the diagnosis and staging of hilar cholangiocarcinoma. MR cholangiography, in conjunction with MR imaging and MRA, provides information on tumor size, bile duct involvement, and vascular compromise, and thus resectability of the tumor. Multi-phasic contrast-enhanced thin-section helical CT may show Klatskin tumors with a sensitivity of up to 100%. Tumors are better seen on arterial-dominant phase than on portal venous phase scans (sensitivity, 100% vs. 86%). However, single-slice CT is not accurate for assessing resectability (accuracy, 60%), because proximal tumor extent is largely underestimated. Preliminary experience with multi-slice CT indicates that the extent of bile duct involvement may be better displayed due to multi-planar imaging capabilities. Curved planar reconstruction of multi-slice CT data sets along the portal vein and the bile ducts reveals tumor involvement.Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma have a non-specific imaging appearance. Because of abundant fibrous stroma, they exhibit little contrast enhancement during CT or MR imaging scanning in the early phase with delayed accumulation of contrast material. Although not pathognomonic, the presence of bile duct dilatation within the tumor and retraction of the liver capsule adjacent to the tumor are suggestive of the diagnosis.In conclusion, the role of contrast-enhanced MR imaging with MR cholangiography and multi-slice CT in the detection and preoperative staging of cholangiocarcinoma is emphasised.

CT imaging of intrabiliary growth of colorectal liver metastases: a comparison of pathological findings of resected specimens.

The objective of this study was to assess the usefulness of CT in the pre-operative evaluation of macroscopic intrabiliary tumour growth of colorectal liver metastases. 25 metastatic nodules of 18 patients who underwent an initial hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastasis were retrospectively evaluated. The CT appearance and pathological findings of the resected specimens were correlated. A number of unusual peritumoral features associated with intrabiliary tumour growth were detected by pre-operative CT. These were classified into three patterns: (1) thickened portal tract; (2) intrahepatic bile duct dilatation; and (3) a wedge-shaped area with enhancement. In 8 (32%) of the 25 nodules the portal tract was depicted as thicker than usual and these features were found proximal to the tumour in three instances, distal to the tumour in four instances, and both proximal and distal in one instance. All of the three intrabiliary tumours larger than 30 mm resulted in thickening of the portal tract. Intrahepatic bile duct dilatation was detected in association with 10 (40%) of 25 nodules. Bile duct dilatation was observed in more than one segment when intrabiliary tumour reached the hepatic hilus from the tumour. The presence of bile duct dilatation was not related to either the size of the tumour or the extent of intrabiliary tumour growth. An abnormally high density wedge-shaped area on contrast enhanced CT was another feature indicating intrabiliary tumour growth and was seen in association with four nodules. Such areas were seen in the liver parenchyma distal to the tumour on three occasions, or encompassing the tumour on one accasion. This wedge-shaped area appeared as a well demarcated dark red-brown region in the cut surface of the resected specimen. CT was useful for detecting the presence of intrabiliary tumour growth with these three patterns of radiological findings in patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer

Biliary carcinogenesis in pancreaticobiliary maljunction

The coexistence of bile duct carcinoma in choledochal cysts is well known. With large number of cases of congenital bile duct dilatation and pancreaticobiliary maljunction (PBM), it is now apparent that gallbladder carcinoma is more frequent in PBM without bile duct dilatation. The incidence of Gallbladder cancer in choledochal cyst and bile duct cancer in PBM, regardless of the presence of bile duct dilatation is significantly higher than that in control patients with biliary cancer but without PBM. A recent survey shows that the incidence of bile duct cancer in PBM without dilatation is equivalent to that of gallbladder cancer and bile duct cancer in patients with choledochal dilatation. Pathology in PBM is a result of reflux of pancreatic juice and stasis of the mixture in the biliary system. Carcinogenic factors thus present in the biliary contents induce epithelial changes in the biliary tract. In the biliary contents, activated pancreatic enzymes and secondary or deconjugated bile acids are markedly increased and they irritate the biliary mucosa. Mutagens are proven to form in the bile of PBM. In the epithelia of PBM, hyperplasia, metaplasia, and dysplasia are often found, and proliferative activity is increased; furthermore, K-ras gene mutation and overexpression of p53 protein are demonstrated. As for treatment of PBM, whether it is symptomatic or not, an operative procedure, is necessary, to prevent carcinogenic changes in the gallbladder and bile duct. Regardless of whether dilatation is present or not, total excision of the extrahepatic bile duct, along with gallbladder, is the treatment of choice, followed by hepaticojejunostomy or hepaticoduodenostomy.