Hilar cholangiocarcinoma associated with sarcoid reaction in the regional lymph nodes

A 74-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a 2-week history of jaundice. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy revealed a nodular tumor originating in the upper part of the common hepatic duct, which was invading the confluence of the right and left hepatic ducts. Microscopic examination of biopsy specimens revealed adenocarcinoma. Abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography demonstrated multiple enlarged lymph nodes around the extrahepatic bile duct and the common hepatic artery. Laparotomy revealed lymph node enlargement in the hepatoduodenal ligament, behind the pancreatic head, and along the common hepatic and left gastric arteries. Extended left hepatic lobectomy, caudate lobectomy, and resection of extrahepatic bile duct with extended lymph node dissection were performed. The histology of permanent specimen revealed no tumor metastasis but a sarcoid reaction in the lymph nodes. The patient is in good health 21 months after the operation, without any evidence of recurrence. This is the first successfully resected case of hilar cholangiocarcinoma associated with sarcoid reaction in the regional lymph nodes.     

Disease-free survival for 9 years after liver resection for stage IV gallbladder cancer: Report of a case

We report herein the case of a 66-year-old woman who has survived for more than 9 years without recurrence since undergoing a right trisegmentectomy of the liver with biliary reconstruction using the jejunum for stage IV (T1, N1a, M0, UICC) gallbladder cancer. The resected tumor, which was histologically diagnosed as moderately to poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, was approximately 8cm in diameter and infiltrated from the gallbladder to the medial, anterior, and posterior segments of the liver, involving the right hepatic and common hepatic ducts and the right hepatic artery; no intrahepatic distant metastasis was found. Although preoperative imaging diagnosis showed swollen lymph nodes at the hepatoduodenal ligament and paraaortic region, histological analysis of the resected lymph nodes revealed only one metastasis, located at the cystic duct which was involved in the tumor. This case demonstrates that curative resection may be the appropriate surgical intervention for patients with a stage IV tumor and direct infiltration to the liver and surrounding organs but no distant metastases.     

Double cancer of the cystic duct and gallbladder associated with low junction of the cystic duct

We report a case of double cancer of the cystic duct and gallbladder associated with low junction of the cystic duct. A 73-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital complaining of upper abdominal pain. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography showed a stenotic lesion in the lower common bile duct and no visualization of the cystic duct or gallbladder. Enhanced computed tomography revealed a heterogeneously enhanced tumorous lesion around the lower bile duct in the pancreatic head. A diagnosis of cancer arising from the cystic duct that entered the lower part of the common hepatic duct was made by intraductal ultrasonography, which showed an intraluminal protruding lesion in the cystic duct. Isolated gallbladder cancer was also diagnosed, by abdominal computed tomography. She underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy with dissection of regional lymph nodes. Histological examination revealed moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma of the cystic duct and well-differentiated adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder. Double cancer of the cystic duct and gallbladder is extremely rare, and this case also suggests a relationship between a low junction of the cystic duct and neoplasm in the biliary tract.     

Metachronous double cancer of the gallbladder and common bile duct

We report a rare case of metachronous double cancer of the biliary tract. At age 59 years, a man had undergone a cholecystectomy and resection of the liver bed for gallbladder cancer pathologically diagnosed as papillary adenocarcinoma, in 1997. Four years later, he was admitted to our hospital with jaundice. At first, we suspected lymph node metastasis of the gallbladder cancer along the common bile duct. But abdominal computed tomography demonstrated circular wall thickness of the common bile duct, so primary bile duct cancer was strongly suspected. Thus, extended right hepatectomy and pancreaticoduodenectomy were performed after right portal vein embolization. The pathological diagnosis of the resected specimen was well-differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma, and this case was clarified to be metachronous double cancer. A review of the literature regarding double cancer of the biliary tract is presented following this case report. We showed that half of 30 cases of double cancer of the biliary tract were not associated with pancreaticobiliary maljunction, including all 6 metachronous cases.     

The spectrum and natural history of common bile duct stenosis in chronic alcohol-induced pancreatitis.

Sixty patients with chronic alcohol-induced pancreatitis with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography evidence of common bile duct stenosis were studied to determine the clinical spectrum and natural history of this complication, as well as the indications for biliary bypass. In 17% of patients, common bile duct stenosis (CBDS) was an incidental finding at ERCP, while in the remaining cases pain and jaundice were the predominant symptoms in 35% and 48%, respectively. Biliary drainage was performed in 38% of patients for persistent or recurrent jaundice, cholangitis, and while undergoing pancreatic duct or cyst drainage procedures for pain. The benign nature of CBDS in chronic alcohol-induced pancreatitis (CAIP) in patients without persistent jaundice is emphasized. In particular, no histologically proved cases of secondary biliary cirrhosis were noted. The majority of patients with CBDS due to CAIP may be safely managed without biliary bypass but require close follow-up.     

Report of a case with gallbladder carcinoma: P53 expression of the peritumor epithelium might predict biliary tract recurrence

IntroductionThe over-expression of P53 protein in gallbladder carcinoma is a biomarker correlating with a poor survival. However, the significance of P53 expression in peritumor tissues is unknown. We experienced a case of gallbladder carcinoma where the operative specimen showed over-expression of P53 on the peritumor epithelium, and early recurrence developed at the biliary tract.Presentation of caseA 74-year-old female patient was referred to our hospital due to wall thickening of the gallbladder on ultrasonography. Radiographic examinations revealed wall thickening at the fundus of gallbladder and no abnormalities of the biliary tract or surrounding lymph nodes. We performed open cholecystectomy and lymph node dissection without extrahepatic bile duct resection, as a frozen section of the surgical stump of the cystic duct was cancer-free. However, a pathological examination revealed over-expression of P53 protein in the epithelium of the peritumor to the cystic duct, which were diagnosed as normal on hematoxylin eosin staining.The patient developed bile duct metastases, two and half years after the operation. She underwent endoscopic stenting for the obstruction of bile duct with no additional therapy, and died 6 months later.Discussion and conclusionThe immunohistochemical staining of the GB wall or surgical stump for a surgical specimen of GBC may be crucial to predict the bile duct recurrence.     

Surgical treatment of choledochal cysts

Biliary cystic disease is uncommon in Asia and very rare in Europe and the Americas. Patients with biliary cysts may present as infants, children, or adults. When patients present as adults, they are more likely to have stones in the gallbladder, common duct, or intrahepatic ducts and to present with biliary colic, acute cholecystitis, cholangitis, or gallstone pancreatitis. With increasing age at presentation, the risks of intrahepatic strictures and stones, segmented hepatic atrophy/hypertrophy, secondary biliary cirrhosis, portal hypertension, and biliary malignancy all increase significantly. Factors to be considered when performing surgery on patients with biliary cystic disease include: (1) age, (2) presenting symptoms, (3) cyst type, (4) associated biliary stones, (5) prior biliary surgery, (6) intrahepatic strictures, (7) hepatic atrophy/hypertrophy, (8) biliary cirrhosis, (9) portal hypertension, and (10) associated biliary malignancy. In general, regardless of age, presenting symptoms, biliary stones, prior surgery or other secondary problems, surgery should include cholecystectomy and excision of extrahepatic cyst(s). With respect to the distal bile duct, the surgical principle should be excision of a portion of the intrapancreatic bile duct with care to not injure the pancreatic duct or a long common channel. Resection of the pancreatic head should be reserved for patients with an established malignancy. With respect to the intrahepatic ducts, surgery should be individualized depending on whether (1) both lobes are involved, (2) strictures and stones are present, (3) cirrhosis has developed, or (4) an associated malignancy is localized or metastatic. When the liver is not cirrhotic, hepatic parenchyma should be preserved even when strictures and stones are present. If cirrhosis is advanced, hepatic transplantation may be indicated, but this sequence of events is unusual. If a malignancy has developed, oncologic principles should be followed. Whenever possible, resection of a localized tumor including adjacent hepatic parenchyma and regional lymph nodes should be performed.     

腹腔镜胆囊切除术继发胆管结石的诊治体会（附15例报告）

目的：探讨腹腔镜胆囊切除术（laparoscopic cholecystectomy, LC）继发胆管结石的高危因素及诊治要点。方法：回顾分析2000年1月至2013年6月6000例LC中15例继发胆管结石患者的临床资料。结果：术中发现并处理1例,明确诊断后立即改变手术方式,同时行腹腔镜胆总管探查术。术后发现并处理14例,其中2例由于胆漏急诊行传统开腹胆总管切开探查、T管引流术,12例于LC术后约1周行内镜十二指肠乳头括约肌切开取石术（endoscopic sphincterotomy for lithotomy, ESTL）。1例行EST—L的患者,术后出现上腹部疼痛,CT检查提示十二指肠周围少量积液、后腹膜积气,保守治疗愈合。1例患者术后因急性胆管炎住院治疗1次。余均恢复良好。术后均获定期随访,均恢复正常生活。结论：LC继发胆管结石重在预防,关键是术者必须充分认识与评估其发生的高危因素,术中采取相应的处理措施。Lc继发胆管结石的诊断与处理应根据患者的具体情况采用个体化的治疗方式。术中发现并及时处理效果最佳,可避免再次手术给患者造成的心理、生理方面的打击。     

Intraoperative cholangiography and bile duct injury

We are not in agreement with the opinion that the credit for excellent results after laparoscopic cholecystectomy is to be attributed to the routine performing of intraoperative cholangiography. We performed 2538 laparoscopic cholecystectomies without routine intraoperative cholangiography and we obtained very low rate and severity of common bile duct injuries: there was a total of four common bile duct injuries (0.16%), in no case was the injury a major transaction, and injuries were detected intraoperatively and easily repaired with a T-tube. Cholangiography could prevent bile duct transaction, but that it is not necessary for intraoperative cholangiography to be routinely performed for this purpose. It is sufficient for intraoperative cholangiography to be performed whenever the surgeon is in doubt as to the biliary anatomy or common bile duct clearance, and that when dissection of the cholecystic peduncle proves difficult he does not hesitate to convert to open access.     

Spontaneous choledochoduodenal fistula with tuberculous duodenal ulceration

Spontaneous choledochoduodenal fistulas (CDFs) are rare. The most common aetiology is penetrating duodenal ulcers, observed in 80% of cases. Even in areas where acid peptic disease is common, tuberculosis should be considered as a cause, especially in developing countries like India, where tuberculosis is common. The management of CDF due to acid peptic disease is predominantly surgical while healing of tuberculous CDF has been reported with antitubercular treatment. A preoperative diagnosis of tuberculous CDF by endoscopic biopsy from the duodenal ulcer or image guided fine needle aspiration if abdominal lymph nodes are present can eliminate the need for surgery and achieve a cure with antitubercular treatment. The CDF in this case was due to caseation of periduodenal lymph nodes rupturing into the duodenum and the bile duct.     

腹腔镜胆囊切除术中损伤性胆漏的原因及处理

目的:探讨腹腔镜胆囊切除术(laparoscopic cholecystectomy,LC)所致医源性胆漏的成因及预防措施。方法:回顾分析2002年6月至2007年8月我院为659例患者行LC的临床资料,分析胆漏发生的原因。结果:本组发生胆管损伤5例,其中1例胆总管穿孔,1例钛夹脱落,1例胆总管实质横断,1例胆总管壁部分缺损,1例胆总管电灼伤,分别给予对症治疗后痊愈。随访2~3年,均恢复良好。结论:操作与经验的欠缺,技术不娴熟,思想麻痹大意,胆囊三角区炎症粘连、解剖不清是造成胆漏的重要原因,我们利用吸引器钝性分离三角区解剖层面,顺逆结合法切除胆囊。术前MRCP及ERCP检查及术中造影是防止LC医源性胆漏的有效手段。同时应做好中转开腹的思想准备。     

Cytokeratin is a superior marker for detection of micrometastatic biliary tract carcinoma

BACKGROUND: The incidence of lymph node micrometastases in patients with biliary tract carcinoma is unknown. We evaluated the utility of three antibodies for immunohistochemical (IHC) detection of micrometastatic disease in patients with gallbladder and bile duct carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Surgical specimens from 35 patients with biliary tract carcinoma were evaluated. Histologically involved tissues were stained with the following antibodies using standard IHC techniques: cytokeratin (AE1:AE3), CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen), and EMA (epithelial membrane antigen). The antibodies with the greatest degree of positive staining were then used to evaluate the lymph nodes of patients with histologically negative lymph nodes. Micrometastatic disease was defined as clustered atypical cells <2 mm in size detected only with the use of IHC. RESULTS: All of the primary tumors and histologically positive lymph nodes demonstrated staining with cytokeratin and CEA antibodies, whereas only 83% were positive for EMA. Therefore, cytokeratin and CEA antibodies were used to evaluate histologically negative lymph nodes. Anti-cytokeratin immunostaining detected micrometastatic disease in two patients. Staining with anti-CEA was negative in all specimens. Overall, two of 15 patients with histologically node negative biliary tract carcinoma had occult micrometastases. CONCLUSION: Cytokeratin immunostaining enables detection of micrometastases in histologically negative lymph nodes in patients with biliary tract carcinoma. Prospective protocols incorporating cytokeratin staining of the lymph nodes may help determine the incidence and clinical significance of occult micrometastatic disease in these patients.     

Common bile duct perforation due to tuberculosis: a case report

A young man with HIV presented with biliary peritonitis secondary to spontaneous common bile duct perforation. Investigation revealed that the perforation was due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis of the bile duct is uncommon and usually presents with obstructive jaundice due to stricture. Bile duct perforation due to tuberculosis is extremely rare. Its management is discussed.     

Isolated cystic dilatation of the cystic duct

Presented was an unusual case of congenital cystic dilatation of the extrahepatic biliary tract in which the cystic changes were confined solely to the cystic duct. There was concomitant common bile duct obstruction secondary to inflammation and mass effect from the cyst. Management consisted of cholecystectomy, excision of the cyst, common bile duct exploration, examination of the ampullary region by duodenotomy, and choledochoduodenostomy.     

Identification of the regional lymphatic system of the gallbladder by vital staining.

In 21 patients with biliary tract cancer dye was injected into the lymphatic system of the gallbladder to determine the extent of its regional lymph nodes. A volume of 0.1-0.3 ml 1 per cent indigo carmine solution was injected directly into lymphatic vessels of the gallbladder in eight patients and into lymph nodes (cystic node or pericholedochal nodes) in 13 patients during radical surgery for biliary tract cancer. The lymphatic system was visualized in a total of 14 patients. The dye descended around the bile duct, flowed into the cystic node, the pericholedochal nodes and the lymph nodes posterior to the head and neck of the pancreas, and finally reached the interaortocaval nodes adjacent to the left renal vein. The stained lymphatic tissue was regarded as the regional lymphatic system of the gallbladder. These nodes should be completely resected during radical surgery for gallbladder cancer.     

Small cell carcinoma of the cystic duct: A case report

Small cell carcinoma usually involves the lung and rarely affects the biliary tract, especially the cystic duct. In this article we report a case of small cell carcinoma of the cystic duct in a 46-year-old Japanese man. The patient presented with abdominal pain and jaundice. Imaging showed a small nodule in the cystic duct invading the common bile duct with dilatation of the proximal biliary tree. The hepatic artery and portal vein were free from invasion. Extended right hepatic lobectomy, cholecystectomy, and resection of the extrahepatic proximal bile ducts were performed together with lymph node dissection under the tentative diagnosis of carcinoma of the cystic duct. Histopathologic examination of the resected specimen revealed small cell carcinoma arising in the cystic duct and extending into the common bile duct. The postoperative clinical course was uneventful, and the patient is doing well without any signs of recurrence 1 year after the operation. To our knowledge this is the first documented case of a small cell carcinoma arising in the cystic duct.     

Spontaneous cystic duct perforation associated with acalculous cholecystitis

Spontaneous perforation of the extrahepatic biliary tree is rare in adults. Although perforation of the hepatic, common hepatic, common bile, and cystic ducts has been reported, review of the English literature reveals only four cases of cystic duct perforation, each attributed to calculi. We herein report the first known case of spontaneous perforation of the cystic duct in the absence of biliary calculi.     

Chemotherapy-induced sclerosing cholangitis as a rare indication for resection: Report of a case

Bile duct stricture due to chemotherapy-induced sclerosing cholangitis (CISC) is a potentially fatal complication of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC). It is managed primarily with medical treatment and biliary stenting. We report a rare case of a CISC-related biliary stricture requiring resection. The patient had been receiving adjuvant HAIC for 11 months after a curative liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma, when clinically overt cholangitis developed. Radiologic and biopsy findings suggested a CISC-related biliary stricture limited to the common hepatic duct. We discontinued HAIC and started corticosteroid treatment, which finally became ineffective. Endoscopic biliary stenting was impossible because of her severe biliary sclerosis, necessitating resection of the stricture, which was confirmed histologically to be secondary sclerosing cholangitis. The patient has shown no signs of recurrent cholangitis for 12 postoperative months since her operation. Thus, resection could be a treatment option for a CISC-related biliary stricture in selected patients.     

内镜逆行胰胆管造影术治疗肝移植术后并发胆管结石受者临床分析

目的探讨肝移植术后并发胆管结石受者行内镜逆行胰胆管造影术(ERCP)治疗的安全性和有效性。 方法回顾性分析南京军区福州总医院肝胆外科2005年1月至2015年12月肝移植术后并发胆管结石受者的临床资料。24例受者胆管结石确诊主要依据T管造影、MRCP或ERCP。确诊胆管结石受者均采用ERCP下行球囊扩张联合胆道塑料支架置入治疗,术中采用地西泮镇静,同时密切监测生命体征。观察肝移植术后并发胆管结石受者结石类型、狭窄情况、ERCP治疗情况及其治疗前后肝功能指标变化。采用Wilcoxon符号秩和检验比较ERCP治疗前后受者血清总胆红素(TBil)、碱性磷酸酶(ALP)、谷氨酰转肽酶(GGT)、ALT和AST水平变化。P<0.05为差异有统计学意义。 结果24例受者中胆总管结石20例(包括单纯胆总管结石11例、胆总管结石合并胆管狭窄9例),肝内、外胆管结石4例。肝移植至并发胆管结石平均间隔时间(604±215)d。19例发生在术后12～66个月,余5例发生在术后3个月内。11例胆总管结石受者采用柱状球囊扩张＋取石篮取石＋胆总管置入内支架引流治疗,治疗有效。9例胆总管结石合并胆管狭窄受者采用柱状球囊扩张＋取石篮取石＋胆总管置入内支架＋鼻胆管引流治疗,其中8例治疗有效;1例因重度胆管狭窄,反复内镜取石不能取尽,继发感染再次行肝移植。4例肝内、外胆管结石受者均采用柱状球囊扩张＋取石篮取石＋左、右肝管置入内支架＋鼻胆管引流治疗,治疗有效。受者内镜治疗后血清TBil、ALP和GGT分别为31、179和247 mmol/L,均低于内镜治疗前水平(43、273和385 mmol/L),差异均有统计学意义(z＝0.042、0.001、0.004,P均<0.05)。截至2017年12月,24例受者随访时间为1～2年,4例因原发性肝癌复发分别于肝移植术后9、5、34、25个月死亡,1例因上消化道出血于肝移植术后34个月死亡,1例因重度胆管狭窄行二次肝移植并于2014年4月因肝脓肿继发感染性休克死亡,1例因感染性休克于肝移植术后33个月死亡,其余17例随访期间未见结石再发。 结论内镜下行球囊扩张联合塑料支架置入治疗原位肝移植术后并发胆管结石安全、有效,可作为目前原位肝移植术后并发胆管结石的首选治疗方案。     

Experience with pancreatoduodenectomy in a cancer hospital

Records of twenty-nine patients with adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, ampulla of Vater, common bile duct, and colon who were treated with pancreatoduodenectomy were reviewed. Operative mortality was 24 per cent. Survival was adversely affected by incomplete excision of the primary lesion, the presence of metastases in lymph nodes, and severe biliary obstruction. Twenty-two patients (76 per cent) died from the operation or were not cured. Pancreatoduodenectomy was of dubious value in the treatment of carcinoma of the head of the pancreas.