Rapid enlargement of a choledochal cyst: antenatal diagnosis and delayed primary excision

A case of choledochal cyst (CC) antenatally diagnosed at 29 weeks' gestation is reported. Rapid enlargement of the cyst soon after delivery resulted in complete gastric outlet obstruction (GOO). The lesion was treated by external drainage as a temporary maneuver, with delayed cyst excision and hepaticoduodenostomy at the hepatic hilum performed at 81 days of age. Surgical treatment of CC in early infancy has been reported to be safe and effective. However, delayed primary excision would be an alternative procedure, especially in rare cases showing rapid enlargement resulting in GOO, since this choice has the potential advantage of allowing weight gain and improved nutritional status without risking interim complications due to the drainage procedure. Accepted: 24 March 1997