胆道闭锁Kasai术后肝内胆管囊性扩张的形成特点与病理研究

目的分析胆道闭锁(biliary atresia,BA)患儿Kasai术后肝内胆管囊性扩张(intrahepatic biliary cysts,IBC)的形成特点及病理学表现,探索其与预后之间的关系。方法选取2017年1月至2018年12月天津市儿童医院Kasai术后行肝移植手术的BA患儿179例(男75例,女104例),收集患儿的临床资料和影像学资料,用以判断是否存在IBC,其中36例CT检查结果提示存在肝内胆管扩张,作为IBC(+)组,143例未检测到肝内胆管扩张,作为IBC(-)组,比较两组的自体肝生存状况及肝功能指标。同时收集到上述患儿中50例患儿的肝移植时的病肝组织,其中IBC(+)组18例,IBC(-)组32例,进行HE染色,观察肝脏纤维化程度、胆管增生程度、淤胆以及胆管板畸形的发生情况。结果①IBC(+)组女患儿有27例,占75.0%(27/36),IBC(-)组女患儿有77例,占53.8%(77/143),两组中女患儿占比的差异具有统计学意义(P=0.021),两组患儿在行Kasai术时的日龄及术后胆管炎的发生率的比较中,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);②IBC(+)组患儿的中位生存期为11.5个月,明显高于IBC(-)组患儿的9.0个月。Log-Rank检测发现,IBC(+)组术后自体肝生存状况优于IBC(-)组患儿,且差异具有统计学意义(P=0.038);③肝功能的比较结果发现IBC(+)组除胆汁酸(total bile acids,TBA)外,均低于IBC(-)组患儿,其中总胆红素(total bilirubin,TBI)、结合胆红素(direct bilirubin,DBI)水平在两组的差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);④IBC(+)组患儿的肝纤维化程度、胆管增生程度及胆管板畸形发生率均较IBC(-)组略低,差异无统计学意义;但IBC(+)组淤胆程度明显低于IBC(-)组,差异具有统计学意义(P=0.013)。结论BA患儿Kasai术后发生IBC可能是肝脏代偿的积极表现,短期内不会导致胆汁淤积的加重,相反扩张的胆管可以减轻胆汁淤积的程度,改善肝功能及病理分级,从而延长自体肝生存时间。     

Kasai术后肝内胆管囊性扩张的诊治与预后

目的 总结胆管闭锁术后肝内胆管囊性扩张的诊治经验,分析其对患儿预后的影响.方法 1998年6月至2008年3月,对胆管闭锁行葛西手术的患儿进行追踪随访.通过超声检查,发现8例患儿存在肝内胆管扩张.其中3例再行MRI检查,6例再行CT平扫加增强检杳以明确诊断.此8例患儿术后均有不同程度胆管炎症状.5例行PTCD显示肝内胆管囊性扩张.3例患儿行囊肿与空肠胆支再吻合术,2例患儿仪行PTCD置管引流,2例患儿暂未予任何处理.结果 3例经手术治疗的患儿,术后黄疸消退或减轻.仅行PTCD的患儿肝内胆管扩张长期存在.结论 对反复发作的胆管炎应定期行超声检查,尽早发现肝内囊肿;对肝内胆管囊性扩张,无论其影像学分型如何,应根据其具体临床表现进行相应的积极治疗;PTCD无法长期放置,仅是暂时性的治疗,但对手术时寻找囊肿有指示作用,使手术时囊肿的定位相对容易;囊肿的大小、位置与门静脉的关系,压迫的时间、治疗是否及时有效都可影响患儿的预后.     

产前诊断胆道闭锁影像学研究

目的：胆道闭锁早期诊断困难,而产前诊断更是极少发现。本文对产前诊断的胆道闭锁影像学特点进行探讨。方法回顾我院2010年至2012年收治的产前诊断9例产前诊断胆道畸形患儿,入院手术年龄24 d至2岁。全部患儿行腹腔镜胆道造影,4例诊断胆道闭锁,5例诊断先天性胆管扩张症,胆道闭锁患儿中2例接受腹腔镜下肝管空肠ROUX-Y吻合术,2例接受开腹肝门空肠吻合术。观察其临床表现,超声和实验室指标,术中情况,术后恢复情况等。结果4例患儿产前超声未见胆囊或胆囊显示不清。产前超声发现肝门部囊肿的3例患儿,囊肿小且均无明显增大,张力较高,呈规则圆形。产前诊断发现肝门囊肿的3例患儿术中证实为胆总管远端闭锁（Ⅰ型胆道闭锁）,未发现胆囊也未发现囊肿的1例患儿证实为Ⅲ型胆道闭锁。生后全部胆道闭锁患儿出现黄疸,最早出现在生后第2天,但都未出现陶土样便。全部胆道闭锁患儿囊肿大小形态无明显变化。全部患儿查ALT、AST、rGGT、直接胆红素和总胆红素进行性升高。2例接受腹腔镜下肝管空肠ROUX-Y吻合术,2例接受开腹肝门空肠吻合术。全部4例患儿术后恢复好。结论产前超声检查可以确定胆道闭锁,如果发现肝门部囊肿的胎儿,应定期接受超声检查,如果囊肿在孕期变化不明显,应怀疑囊肿型胆道闭锁。如产前超声未发现胆囊结构,则应怀疑为Ⅲ型胆道闭锁。生后应密切观察、超声、生化、黄疸情况。如果黄疸进行性加重可及早进行腹腔镜胆道造影及手术治疗。     

Long-term prognosis of patients with biliary atresia: a 25 year summary

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to delineate the long-term prognosis of biliary atresia (BA) in Taiwan. STUDY DESIGN: From 1976 to 2000, 185 children were diagnosed with BA, 22 underwent exploratory laparotomy without Kasai operation, and 163 underwent Kasai operation, of which 141 cases had long-term follow-up and formed the basis of this study. The outcome was analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 141 BA children studied who underwent Kasai operation, 115 (81.6%) had recoloration of stools, and 86 (61.0%) became jaundice-free (bilirubin <34 micromol/L) [corrected]. The resolution of jaundice and the absence of repeated cholangitis contributed to better outcome. Five and 10 year survival rates with native liver were 35% and 31%, respectively. Liver transplantation was performed in 19 patients (all but 2 with a living-related donor), and 15 (79%) survived. Five and 10 year overall survival rates for BA patients were 41.9% and 40.2%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The study delineated the long-term outcome of BA in an Asian country other than Japan. Survival with native liver after a Kasai operation in Taiwan was similar to that in the American and European series. Limited donors for liver transplantation in the years of the study accounted for the poor overall prognosis of BA patients in this series.     

Brain abscess in hepatopulmonary syndrome associated with biliary atresia

The first‐choice therapy for biliary atresia (BA) is Kasai hepatoportoenterostomy, which has been shown to greatly improve outcome. Various long‐term complications, however, such as portal hypertension and hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS), can occur in patients with native liver. A rare case of brain abscess in an 11‐year‐old girl with HPS associated with BA is reported. The patient underwent hepatoportoenterostomy for BA at 53 days of age, with resolution of hyperbilirubinemia. At 10 years of age, she was diagnosed with severe HPS with right‐to‐left shunting, and preparations for liver transplantation proceeded. Three months after the diagnosis, she had a right parietal brain abscess. Given that the brain abscess enlarged in size, surgical drainage of the brain abscess was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful, but a slight left hemiplegia remained at discharge. The presumed mechanism of abscess formation in HPS may be right‐to‐left bacterial transit through intrapulmonary vascular dilatations and/or arteriovenous fistulae.     

Endoscopic findings at porta hepatis and clinical outcome after portoenterostomy in biliary atresia

Postoperative endoscopic examination of the porta hepatis through an exteriorized enterostomy was undertaken in 19 children with biliary atresia (BA). Endoscopic findings were classified into three types: (1) ductal (D) type with distinct bile-duct orifice and good bile drainage; (2) oozing (O) type without distinct bile-duct orifice but good bile flow; and (3) covered (C) type with no bile-duct orifice and no bile discharge. The postoperative course of the D-type patients was excellent with immediate disappearance of jaundice and good liver function. In the O type, all but 1 patient became jaundice-free, but the duration of disappearance of jaundice after the operation was significantly longer than for the D type (P <0.05). All of the patients with type C died within 3 years after portoenterostomy. Histologic studies of the extrahepatic biliary remnant showed no significant difference in the area of the largest bile-duct lumen or the total area of all bile duct openings among the three types. The age at operation was youngest in type D, and there was a significant difference between types D and C (P <0.05). Endoscopic examination of the porta hepatis reaffirmed the importance of early diagnosis and early operation in the treatment of BA. Type D may have an excellent prognosis while type C may require liver transplantation. Correspondence to: S. Matsuo at his present address     

Cholangitis associated with cystic dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts after antireflux valve construction in biliary atresia

 An intussusception-type antireflux valve (ARV) has been introduced to prevent postoperative ascending cholangitis in the management of biliary atresia (BA). We investigated the characteristics of cholangitis in the management of BA using the ARV in 38 patients who had undergone an operation at our institution; 29 underwent ARV construction at the same time as portenterostomy (PEO) or hepaticojejunostomy. One patient underwent ARV construction for refractory cholangitis with cystic dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts (CDIB) long after the PEO. Five of 29 patients who had ARV construction developed CDIB complicated by severe, refractory cholangitis. One or two episodes of mild cholangitis were observed in 5 (20.8%) of 24 patients who did not show CDIB. An ARV created for postoperative recurrent cholangitis associated with CDIB was ineffective. Preoperative cholangitis associated with a type I choledochal cyst and CDIB was observed in 1 patient. In conclusion, the ARV was effective in preventing refractory cholangitis without CDIB, but ineffective in preventing cholangitis with CDIB. Our findings suggest that CDIB resulting from the ongoing process of BA could be a potential target of bacterial infection through other routes than bilioenteric reflux. Accepted: 14 April 2000     

Type I biliary atresia without extrahepatic biliary cyst

Currently, magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) is used for the differentiation of biliary atresia (BA) from other causes of infantile cholestasis. The authors present a case of type I BA without an extrahepatic biliary cyst in a 2-month-old girl. MRC clearly visualized the patency of the gallbladder, cystic duct, and hepatic ducts with disappearance of the common bile duct. Intraoperative cholangiography demonstrated a cloudy appearance of the intrahepatic bile ducts, confirming the diagnosis of type I BA. We believe that this is the first reported case of type I BA without an extrahepatic biliary cyst diagnosed by MRC.     

Biliary atresia with a “cyst at porta”: management and outcome as per the cholangiographic anatomy

The purpose of this study is to classify biliary atresia (BA) with a "cyst at porta" according to the cholangiographic anatomy and to define management strategy and outcome in each group. A cyst at porta was identified in 13 of 58 babies (22.4%) with BA at first presentation. The cholangiographic anatomy was classified as; Group A (n = 7), type III BA with extrahepatic cyst; Group B (n = 2), type I or II BA with extrahepatic biliary cyst; and Group C (n = 4), type I or II BA with both extrahepatic and intrahepatic biliary cysts. The remaining 45 patients were comprised of type III BA without a cyst. A Kasai's portoenterostomy (PE) was performed for all Group A patients. Groups B and C were treated by hepaticojejunostomy (n = 5) or portoenterostomy (n = 1). All 45 patients with type III BA without a cyst were treated by a Kasai's PE. The median age at surgery was 92 days (ranges 28-342 days). There were three early post-operative deaths, all in patients with type III BA without cyst. Overall 18/55 (32.7%) patients achieved a jaundice free state. In Group A, 5/7 (71.4%) patients had bile flow, 2/7 (28.6%) are anicteric and 2/7(28.6%) had 1-2 episodes of post-operative cholangitis. In Group B, both patients are anicteric and none had post-operative cholangitis. In Group C, all four babies had bile flow but, significant morbidity because of recurrent severe cholangitis. Only one patient reached a jaundice free state. Of the remaining 42 patients with type III BA without a cyst, 27 (64.3%) had bile flow, 13 (31%) became jaundice free and 14 (33.3%) have had 1-2 episodes of post-operative cholangitis. In conclusion, thirteen of 58 (22.4%) babies with BA had a "cyst at porta" at first presentation in this series. The outcome was most satisfactory in type I BA without intrahepatic cystic dilatation (Group B) in terms of achieving a jaundice free state and freedom from recurrent cholangitis. However, intrahepatic biliary cysts (Group C) were associated with recurrent severe cholangitis and a poor eventual outcome despite a good initial bile flow. The outcome in type III BA with extrahepatic cyst was comparable to type III BA without cyst.     

Prenatal ultrasonographic appearance of type IIId (uncorrectable type with cystic dilatation) biliary atresia

Although prenatal ultrasonographic (US) diagnosis has been reported in biliary atresia (BA), most cases are type I (correctable with cystic dilatation). We report three prenatal cases of type IIId BA (uncorrectable with cystic dilatation). Routine fetal US at 22 to 24 weeks of gestation showed two communicating cystic lesions 12 to 16 mm in diameter. On color Doppler US, the lesions were separate from the portal vein or hepatic artery. The size did not change during the prenatal period in any case. Choledochal cyst (CC) was considered the most likely diagnosis, although BA with cystic lesions was also considered. After birth, the patients developed acholic stools and prolonged neonatal jaundice. Hepatobiliary scintigraphy showed negative passage. Duodenal fluid showed a negative or slightly positive Gmelin test. The neonates underwent laparotomy at the age of 36, 46, and 32 days, respectively. Intraoperative cholangiography showed the gallbladder and slightly-dilated common-bile duct without entering the proximal or distal bile ducts in all cases. They were classified as type IIId BA and underwent excision of the cystic lesions and dissection of the portal bile-duct remnants, followed by hepatic portoenterostomy. Case 1 showed persistent jaundice and finally underwent liver transplantation (LTx), case 2 became anicteric. Case 3 remained jaundiced and is to undergo LTx. In conclusion, type IIId BA may be one of the differential diagnoses when a cystic lesion is detected under the hepatic hilum by fetal US. However, prenatal diagnosis of BA is still difficult with respect to differentiation from a CC or type I BA. Early postnatal diagnosis followed by immediate treatment is important, especially in type IIId BA.     

Outcome of biliary atresia in Malaysia: A single-centre study

Aim:   This study aimed to determine the outcome of the operation of children with biliary atresia (BA) at a tertiary paediatric referral centre in Malaysia.
Methods:   A prospective study on all patients with BA referred to the University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur, from 1996 to 2005 was conducted. Survival with native liver, liver transplantation (LT) or death at 2 years of age was determined.
Results:   The median age at referral of the 57 patients with BA seen at University of Malaya Medical Centre was 62 days. Kasai procedure was not performed in nine patients who were all referred late (median age of referral 180 days). The median age at hepatoportoenterostomy (HPE) of the remaining 48 patients was 70 days. A total of 53 (93%) patients had type 3 BA, while only 1 (2%) patient had BA splenic malformation. At 2 years, the survival rate with native liver for the 48 patients who had HPE was 37%, while the overall survival (native liver and LT) rate was 40%. Two of the four patients who had LT survived with a liver graft at 2 years.
Conclusions:   The 2-year survival with native liver following corrective surgery for BA in UMMC, Malaysia, compares favourably with other international figures, but the overall survival rate was adversely affected by a lack of timely LT. The outcome of BA in Malaysia may be further improved by increasing the awareness among child-health professionals on the importance early referral for appropriate surgery in infants suspected of having BA.     

Graft fibrosis in patients with biliary atresia after pediatric living-related liver transplantation

Although an LDLT can successfully treat biliary atresia (BA), some patients develop liver fibrosis or inflammation. To study the incidence and risk factors associated with these complications, we performed serial protocol biopsies. Twenty-four patients with BA who received a pediatric LDLT underwent protocol biopsies. All patients received standard tacrolimus-based immunosuppression and steroids. The last available biopsies were assessed. The mean age at the time of transplant was 4.8yr and the follow-up period ranged from 1.2 to 12.3yr. The GRWR ranged from 0.8% to 4.5%. The mean time from transplantation to the latest biopsy was 4.7yr. No complications occurred with the biopsy protocol. The last available biopsies for 13 (54%) and 4 (17%) patients indicated grade 1 and grade 2 portal fibrosis, respectively, and 14 patients (54%) had inflammation. No ductopenia was detected. A younger age at LDLT was significantly correlated with graft fibrosis (p=0.036). These results indicate that biopsy-proven fibrosis can be detected in patients with BA after LDLT, even in the context of normal liver function blood tests. Therefore, a serial biopsy is a safe and effective follow-up procedure for pediatric LDLT.     

活体肝移植治疗胆道闭锁:22例单中心诊治经验

目的 总结活体肝移植治疗儿童终末期肝病胆道闭锁(BA)的外科治疗经验.方法 2006年6月至2009年7月,共完成亲属活体部分肝移植治疗胆道闭锁22例.术后平均随访18.5(1至36个月)个月,回顾总结肝移植患儿临床病理资料.结果 22例胆道闭锁患儿中已行Kasai手术9例,20例低于1岁,21例低于10kg.其手术平均时间、平均出血均无差别.供肝受体质量(GR/WR)比3.5(2.1～5.7)%.有27例次术后并发症,包括3例术后出血再手术止血,1例门静脉并发症,肝静脉并发症1例,3例肝动脉并发症,胆道并发症1例.有3例围手术死亡,1例再次移植,急性排斥5例(22.7%).6个月、1年和3年受体生存率分别为86.4%、82.2%和82.2%.结论 受体体重,移植物受体质量比,是否行Kasai手术对肝移植手术效果无影响;适当的供肝质量,细致的手术技巧可增加手术成功率.     

活体肝移植治疗胆道闭锁:22例单中心诊治经验

目的 总结活体肝移植治疗儿童终末期肝病胆道闭锁(BA)的外科治疗经验.方法 2006年6月至2009年7月,共完成亲属活体部分肝移植治疗胆道闭锁22例.术后平均随访18.5(1至36个月)个月,回顾总结肝移植患儿临床病理资料.结果 22例胆道闭锁患儿中已行Kasai手术9例,20例低于1岁,21例低于10kg.其手术平均时间、平均出血均无差别.供肝受体质量(GR/WR)比3.5(2.1～5.7)%.有27例次术后并发症,包括3例术后出血再手术止血,1例门静脉并发症,肝静脉并发症1例,3例肝动脉并发症,胆道并发症1例.有3例围手术死亡,1例再次移植,急性排斥5例(22.7%).6个月、1年和3年受体生存率分别为86.4%、82.2%和82.2%.结论 受体体重,移植物受体质量比,是否行Kasai手术对肝移植手术效果无影响;适当的供肝质量,细致的手术技巧可增加手术成功率.     

活体肝移植治疗胆道闭锁:22例单中心诊治经验

目的 总结活体肝移植治疗儿童终末期肝病胆道闭锁(BA)的外科治疗经验.方法 2006年6月至2009年7月,共完成亲属活体部分肝移植治疗胆道闭锁22例.术后平均随访18.5(1至36个月)个月,回顾总结肝移植患儿临床病理资料.结果 22例胆道闭锁患儿中已行Kasai手术9例,20例低于1岁,21例低于10kg.其手术平均时间、平均出血均无差别.供肝受体质量(GR/WR)比3.5(2.1～5.7)%.有27例次术后并发症,包括3例术后出血再手术止血,1例门静脉并发症,肝静脉并发症1例,3例肝动脉并发症,胆道并发症1例.有3例围手术死亡,1例再次移植,急性排斥5例(22.7%).6个月、1年和3年受体生存率分别为86.4%、82.2%和82.2%.结论 受体体重,移植物受体质量比,是否行Kasai手术对肝移植手术效果无影响;适当的供肝质量,细致的手术技巧可增加手术成功率.     

胆道闭锁葛西手术后肝内胆管扩张的治疗与预后分析

目的 探讨胆道闭锁葛西手术后肝内胆管扩张（Intrahepatic biliary cysts,IBCs）的治疗选择和预后情况.方法 回顾性分析8例肝内胆管囊性扩张患儿的临床表现、治疗过程和转归,其中2例单发囊肿型胆管扩张患儿分别予手术和抗感染治疗;6例多发复杂囊肿型胆管扩张患儿均行经皮肝胆管引流术（PTCD）治疗.结果 2例单发囊肿型胆管扩张患儿疗效好,预后良好.6例多发复杂囊肿型胆管扩张患儿经PTCD引流后,2例再次开腹手术吻合;6例患儿中,3例死亡,1例行肝脏移植,1例等待肝移植,1例合并门静脉高压存活.结论 胆道闭锁葛西术后多发肝内胆管扩张（C型）常提示存在严重肝脏损伤,PTCD治疗或手术再吻合治疗多数情况下仅是姑息治疗.PTCD有助于减轻黄疸,改善肝移植术前条件;而无条件进行肝脏移植的患者,单纯PTCD很难长期控制临床症状,应选择再次手术行扩张胆管肠吻合手术.单发肝内胆管扩张（A型）临床过程和预后明显优于C型扩张,可能与肝脏受损程度较轻有关.     

Evaluation of a three‐session biliary dilation protocol following transplant‐related biliary stricture in pediatric patients

To evaluate whether a serial biliary dilation protocol improves outcomes and decreases total biliary drainage time for biliary strictures following pediatric liver transplantation. From 2006 to 2016, 213 orthotopic deceased and living related liver transplants were performed in 199 patients with a median patient age of 3.1 years at a single pediatric hospital. Patients with biliary strictures were managed by IR or surgically by the transplant team. Patients managed by IR were divided into two groups. The first group was managed with a standardized three‐session protocol consisting of dilation every two weeks for three dilations. The second group was managed clinically with varying number and interval of dilations as determined by a multidisciplinary team. The location of biliary stricture, duration of drainage, number of balloon dilations, balloon diameter, time interval between dilations, and success of percutaneous treatment were recorded. Thirty‐four patients developed biliary strictures. Thirty‐one patients were managed with percutaneous intervention. Three strictures could not be crossed and were converted to operative management. Ten patients were managed in the three‐session protocol, and 18 patients were managed in the clinically treated group. There was no significant difference in clinical success rates between groups, 80% and 61%, respectively. The three‐session protocol group trended toward a lower total biliary drain indwell time (median 49 days) compared with the clinically treated group (median 89 days), P = .089. Our study suggests that a three‐session dilation protocol following transplant‐related biliary stricture may decrease total biliary drainage time for some patients.     

Magnetic compression anastomosis for postoperative biliary atresia

We report a case of successful magnetic compression anastomosis (MCA) for obstructed cyst‐jejunostomy in a young woman who had undergone surgery for type 1 biliary atresia (BA) on day 78 of life. A 16‐year‐old girl was admitted with obstructive jaundice. Jaundice resolved with percutaneous trans‐hepatic cholangiodrainage (PTCD) but contrast medium injected from the PTCD tube did not flow through the anastomosis. Magnets were placed on each side of the anastomosis, in the cyst and the jejunum, to compress the partition. On postoperative day (POD) 6, the anastomosis was recanalized and the PTCD tube placed trans‐anastomotically until POD 245. The patient remained free from jaundice after removal of the PTCD tube. MCA can be a useful and less invasive procedure for treating biliary tract anastomotic obstruction in patients with BA.     

Analysis of the pathomorphology of the intra- and extrahepatic biliary system in biliary atresia

OBJECTIVE: Aim of the study was to investigate the pathomorphological changes in the liver and triangular cord of the porta hepatis in biliary atresia and assess the relationship between the degree of differentiation of fibroblasts in the triangular cord of the porta hepatis and the liver fibrosis scores. METHODS: From September 2005 to May 2006, 21 patients with biliary atresia (66+/-20 days old) underwent a Kasai procedure. The liver biopsy and the remnant of the porta hepatis were conserved. Five cases with cholestasis syndrome and 10 cases with choledochal cyst were used as a control group. Liver biopsies were performed in the control group. The micro- and ultrastructure of the liver and the remnant of the porta hepatis were assessed in the biliary atresia and the control group. Ultrastructural features were examined by transmission electron microscopy. The semiquantitative differences in liver fibrosis grading between the biliary atresia and the control group was evaluated with a 3-grade staging system. The degree of differentiation of fibroblasts (FB) in the triangular cord of the porta hepatis was assessed as follows: 1) juvenile type: above 50 % FBs were juvenile, 2) senior type: above 50% FBs were senior, 3) median type: between the former 2 types. The differentiation scores of FB in the porta hepatis were assessed in relation to the liver fibrosis score. RESULTS: 1) The pathological changes with BA are characterized by inflammation and fibrosis in the hepatic portal area. The fibrosis scores in the biliary atresia group (I: 2 cases, II: 12 cases, III: 7 cases) were significantly higher than in the control group (I: 8 cases, II: 5 cases, III: 2 cases; p=0.01. 2) In the biliary atresia group, the extrahepatic biliary system of all cases showed a triangular cord in the porta hepatis. The triangular cord of porta hepatis was characterized by hyperplasia of canaliculi, atresia or stenosis of the bile ducts, inflammation infiltration, cholestasis, and interstitial fibrosis. 3) The ultrastructural features of BA showed active fibroblasts, a loss of microvilli, dense deposits in the hepatocytes and liver sinusoid, and dilatation of canaliculi. 4) The differentiation scores of FB in the porta hepatis were positively related to the liver fibrosis score (p=0.04). CONCLUSION: The main pathological changes of biliary atresia are inflammation and fibrosis in the hepatic portal area. The ultrastructural features of biliary atresia suggested that the differentiation scores of FB in the triangular cord of the porta hepatis were positively related to the liver fibrosis score.     

Time-course changes in the liver of biliary atresia patients on magnetic resonance imaging

Background:  Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), changes in the livers of postoperative biliary atresia (BA) patients were investigated.
Methods:  Periodic MRI was performed in 32 postoperative BA patients. The findings were evaluated by calculating the near-normal liver tissue area that corresponded with normal- or high-signal regions on T1-weighted imaging. The patients were divided into three groups based on the extent of near-normal liver tissue on the final MRI: group A, n  = 14; group B, n  = 13; and group C, n  = 5, included patients with >40%, 20–40%, and <20% area of near-normal liver tissue, respectively. The relationship among the macroscopic and histological findings in the liver at orthotopic living donor liver transplantation (OLDLT), patient outcomes, and MRI findings were investigated.
Results:  In group A, 11 patients had no evidence of liver dysfunction. In group B, six patients either had undergone or were awaiting OLDLT. In group C, all patients had undergone OLDLT. All patients had either adequate or impaired bile drainage in each liver segment. The segmental changes corresponded with the liver architecture at OLDLT. The changes could be evaluated on MRI at 1–2 years after surgery.
Conclusions:  Adequate and restricted areas of liver tissue with near-normal structure were indicative of good and poor prognoses, respectively. Shortly after portoenterostomy, these segmental changes occurred and/or developed in each liver segment and could be detected on MRI. It is emphasized that patients with >40% area of near-normal liver architecture at the initial stages did not require OLDLT, while those with <20% area did require OLDLT.