Histological assessment of cholestasis

The microscopic identification of bile in sections of liver provides an important diagnostic challenge for the histopathologist, particularly in differentiating the many causes of intrahepatic cholestasis from mechanical bile duct obstruction. The pathologist's chief goal in evaluating the cholestatic liver is to distinguish intrahepatic cholestasis (seen in conditions such as drug hepatotoxicity, viral hepatitis, sepsis, or mutations affecting bile transporters) from large bile duct obstruction caused by conditions such as choledocholithiasis, pancreatic carcinoma, biliary stricture, or primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). This distinction carries major therapeutic and prognostic significance, because surgical, endoscopic,or radiologically guided intervention is likely to be undertaken if the pathologic features point to mechanical obstruction of the bile ducts. The histologic assessment of cholestasis, in broad terms, therefore, is a morphologic approach to distinguish between medical jaundice and surgical jaundice.     

ERCP在不明原因肝外阻塞性黄疸的临床应用

目的探讨内镜逆行胰胆管造影（ERCP）在经常规检查不明原因肝外阻塞性黄疸的临床应用价值。方法收集经B超、cT和,或MRCP检查诊断不明原因胆胰疾病或肝外胆管梗阻病人45例,男28例,女17例,年龄21—80岁,均行ERCP术。结果45例病人行ERCP术,其中42例诊断为胆道微结石（Biliary microlithiasis,BML）,42例均行乳头扩张术／EST4-胆道取石术;3例为胆总管下端炎性狭窄而行胆道内支架植入术;1例ERCP取石术后并发轻症胰腺炎,经内科保守治疗后痊愈,l例因腹痛再发行胆囊切除术,其余患者经ERCP治疗后腹痛、黄疸均缓解。结论BML是不明原因肝外阻塞性黄疸的主要原因,ERCP是不明原因肝外阻塞性黄疸安全、有效的诊断及治疗手段。     

Jaundice as a paraneoplastic phenomenon in a T-cell lymphoma

An adolescent male developed severe unexplained cholestatic jaundice 3 mo before diagnosis of mediastinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (T-cell, late thymic phenotype). There was no anatomic obstruction to bile flow, no evidence for an infectious etiology, and no neoplastic involvement of the liver or bile ducts. A paraneoplastic phenomenon is postulated because the jaundice resolved after treatment of the lymphoma. We suggest that occult lymphoma must be added to the differential diagnosis of unexplained intrahepatic cholestasis.     

Primary Gastrointestinal Lymphoma Complicated by Common Bile Duct Obstruction: Report of Two Cases

This report describes two cases, a case of primary small intestinal lymphoma and a case of gastroduodenal lymphoma both producing obstructive jaundice due to invasion of the common bile duct. Oesophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed the lesions and the endoscopic biopsies confirmed the diagnosis of lymphoma in both the cases. Ultrasound examination of the biliary system, followed by percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography, delineated the dilated biliary tree with distal obstruction of the common bile ducts. While radiotherapy alone was sufficient in the case of primary small intestinal lymphoma; drainage procedures were required in the case of gastroduodenal lymphoma to relieve the obstruction of the common bile duct.     

A rare case report of obstructive jaundice caused by mucus-producing cholangiocarcinoma

Rationale:Cholangiocarcinoma is a common cause of obstructive jaundice but is mainly associated with solid mass and not semisolid secretion. In this report, the patient was admitted to the hospital with obstructive jaundice; however, no solid mass was found to lead to jaundice.Patient concerns:The patient developed symptoms of obstructive jaundice for 10 days, including fatigue and yellow skin staining.Diagnoses:Postoperative pathological examination of the bile duct wall revealed cholangioadenocarcinoma, and the jelly like contents were inflammatory secretions.Interventions:The patient underwent laparotomy and was diagnosed with obstructive jaundice. An exploratory laparotomy revealed that the content in the biliary duct tree was a jelly like inflammatory secretion.Outcomes:Follow-up data revealed that the levels of total bilirubin and aminotransferase were normal, and a computed tomography scan showed no tumor mass.Lessons:There are very few reports about obstructive jaundice caused by inflammatory secretion that almost filled up the biliary tree. Internal drainage of the cholestatic bile can be achieved through endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatograpy, or external drainage can be achieved through percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage, which can relieve the symptoms of biliary obstruction and improve the patient''s quality of life.     

Cholestatic jaundice as a paraneoplastic manifestation of prostate adenocarcinoma.

Malignancies may cause cholestatic jaundice through well-recognized mechanisms (e.g., bile duct obstruction or widespread hepatic infiltration). Paraneoplastic syndromes associated with malignancy, particularly with renal cell carcinoma (Stauffer's syndrome) and malignant lymphoproliferative diseases, can induce a reversible form of cholestasis through an unclear pathogenetic mechanism. Prostate cancer presenting initially with cholestatic jaundice without any obvious cause (i.e., obstruction or infiltration) has been reported in 2 cases in the medical literature. We report a patient who presented with pruritus and cholestatic jaundice. During the diagnostic work-up, prostate cancer was diagnosed. Conjugated bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase levels were increased markedly with modest increases of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase and transaminase levels. The results of appropriate investigations performed during the patient's hospitalizations indicated no evidence of hepatic metastases or extrahepatic biliary obstruction. After treatment with flutamide and leuprolide, the patient's symptoms and the laboratory abnormalities reversed rapidly. We regard the cholestatic jaundice of this patient as part of a paraneoplastic syndrome; the cause of cholestasis remains an enigma. Patients with unexplained cholestasis should be investigated for malignancies, including prostate cancer.     

Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Cholestatic Jaundice

A total of 70 cases of cholestatic jaundice have been studied by gray scale ultrasonography in order to evaluate how this technic may be used to differentiate between intra- and extrahepatic cholestasis. In 37 out of 42 patients (88.1%) with jaundice of extrahepatic origin, dilatation of the biliary tree was demonstrated, whereas in all the 28 patients with intrahepatic cholestasis biliary dilatation was clearly excluded. In addition, gallstones in the biliary ducts were detected in 12 out of 20 cases and enlargement of the head of the pancreas (due to carcinoma or chronic pancreatitis) was often correctly diagnosed (nine out of 13 cases). These results suggest that ultrasonography should represent the first step in the diagnostic approach to cholestasis. Information gained from this noninvasive technic should make it possible to correctly plan the more complex investigations (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography).     

Portal hypertensive biliopathy: A single center experience and literature review

Portal hypertensive biliopathy (PHB) is characterized by anatomical and functional abnormalities of the intrahepatic, extrahepatic and pancreatic ducts, in patients with portal hypertension associated to extrahepatic portal vein obstruction and less frequently to cirrhosis. These morphological changes, consisting in dilatation and stenosis of the biliary tree, are due to extensive venous collaterals occurring in an attempt to decompress the portal venous blockage. It is usually asymptomatic until it progresses to more advanced stages with cholestasis, jaundice, biliary sludge, gallstones, cholangitis and finally biliary cirrhosis. Imaging modalities of the biliary tree such as Doppler ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography are essential to establish the diagnosis and the need of therapeutical interventions. Once the diagnosis is established, treatment with ursodesoxycholic acid seems to be beneficial. Decompression of the biliary tree to dilate, remove stones or implant biliary prosthesis by endoscopic or surgical procedures (hepato-yeyunostomy) usually resolves the cholestatic picture and prevents septic complications. The ideal treatment is the decompression of the portal system, with transjugular intrahepatic porto-systemic shunt or a surgical porto-systemic shunt. Unfortunately, few patients will be candidates for these procedures due to the extension of the thrombotic process. The purpose of this paper is to report the first 3 cases of PHB seen in a Colombian center and to review the literature.     

Hepatocellular carcinoma with obstructive jaundice： diagnosis,treatment and prognosis

Obstructive jaundice as the main clinical feature is uncommon in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Only 1-12 % of HCC patients manifest obstructive jaundice as the initial complaint. Such cases are clinically classified as “icteric type hepatoma”, or “cholestatic type of HCC”. Identification of this group of patients is important, because surgical treatment may be beneficial. HCC may involve the biliary tract in several different ways: tumor thrombosis, hemobilia,tumor compression, and diffuse tumor infiltration. Bile duct thrombosis (BDT) is one of the main causes for obstructive jaundice, and the previously reported incidence is 1.2-9 %.BDT might be benign, malignant, or a combination of both.Benign thrombi could be blood clots, pus, or sludge.Malignant thrombi could be primary intrabiliary malignant tumors, HCC with invasion to bile ducts, or metastatic cancer with bile duct invasion. The common clinical features of this type of HCC include: high level of serum AFP, history of cholangitis with dilation of intrahepatic bile duct; aggravating jaundice and rapidly developing into liver dysfunction. It is usually difficult to make diagnosis before operation, because of the low incidence rate, ignorant of this disease, and the difficulty for the imaging diagnosis to find the BDT preoperatively. Despite recent remarkable improvements in the imaging tools for diagnosis of HCC, such cases are still incorrecty diagnosed as cholangiocarcinoma or choledocholithiases. Ultrasonography (US) and CT are help fulin showing hepatic tumors and dilated intrahepatic and/or extrahepatic ducts containing dense material correspondingto tumor diebris. Direct cholangiography including percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)remains the standard procedure to delineate the presence and level of biliary obstruction. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is superior to ERCP in interpreting the cause and depicting the anatomical extent of the perihilar obstructive jaundice, and is particularly distinctive in cases associated with tight biliary stenosis and along segmental biliary stricture. Choledochoscopy and bile duct brushing cytology could be alternative useful techniques in the differentiating obstructions due to intraluminal mass,infiltrating ductal lesions or extrinsic mass compression applicable before and after duct exploration. Jaundice is not necessarily a contraindication for surgery. Most patients will have satisfactory palliation and occasional cure if appropriate procedures are selected and carried out safely, which can result in long-term resolution of symptoms and occasional long-term survival. However, the prognosis of icteric type HCC is generally dismal, but is better than those HCC patients who have jaundice caused by hepatic insufficiency.     

Influence of bile duct occlusion on the exocrine pancreas in rats

The exocrine pancreas was studied in the rat after both prolonged permanent and transient biliary obstruction. Double ligation, transection, and transposition of the distal end of the bile duct rendered the animal permanently jaundiced, whereas simple ligation led to a transient jaundice followed by restitution within 15-20 days. In permanent cholestasis pancreatic mass and protein, DNA, amylase, and trypsinogen content were increased. Transient cholestasis probably had only transient effects, since no significant changes in pancreatic mass, protein, DNA or enzymes could be found at 3-5 weeks after surgery. The results show that obstructive jaundice with absence of bile flow to the intestine causes enlargement of the pancreas due to parenchymatous hyperplasia and interstitial edema.     

Polyps of the biliary tract: is their preoperative diagnosis possible?

Bile duct polyps are a very uncommon cause of obstructive jaundice. We present our experience of three patients diagnosed in the last 10 years. Initial presentation usually takes the form of obstructive jaundice associated with abdominal pain, which simulates biliary lithiasis. The diagnosis is usually surgical. Although in some cases radiological studies and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) may sometimes detect bile duct polyps, exact diagnosis before surgery is very unusual. The radiological signs that suggest the existence of a bile duct polyp in the ERCP seem to be the presence of repletion defects, fixed unilaterally to the biliary conduit, without meniscus and without circumferential stenosis of the affected conduit. The most frequently found polyps are fibroinflammatory, and less frequently adenomatous.     

Biliary Tract Obstruction Secondary to Malignant Lymphoma: Experience at a Referral Center

Lymphoma is a rare cause of biliary obstruction and, on cholangiography, may mimic other causes of obstructive jaundice. The optimum treatment for these patients is unclear. The aim of this study is to evaluate the incidence, clinical and imaging findings, management, and outcome of biliary obstruction caused by lymphoma. Our database was searched retrospectively for patients with biliary obstruction due to lymphoma between 1999 and 2005. Biliary obstruction secondary to lymphoma was found in 7 (0.6%) of 1123 patients with malignant biliary obstruction. One patient had benign biliary obstruction related to lymphoma. Of the eight patients (five male, three female; mean age, 34.50 ± 17.93 years), four had Hodgkin’s disease and four had non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Biliary obstruction occurred as part of the initial or early presentation of lymphoma in two patients. The most common cause of obstruction was compression of the biliary tract by enlarged lymph nodes (six patients). Cholangiographic appearances were diverse: narrowing of the common bile duct (six patients), splayed and narrowed common bile duct (one patient), and multiple strictures and dilatations of the intrahepatic bile ducts (one patient). Biliary drainage was performed in all patients including endoscopic stent placement in six patients, nasobiliary drainage in one, and choledochoduodenostomy in one. Hyperbilirubinemia resolved in all but one of the patients with a stent; however, none could be maintained in a stent-free condition. Five patients died within 1 year after onset of jaundice. One of the surviving patients developed a late benign stricture at the site of the earlier lymphoma. We conclude that lymphoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of obstructive jaundice, particularly in younger patients. We suggest that biliary drainage by the endoscopic or percutaneous route is necessary for the treatment of these patients. Late benign strictures may develop. Biliary obstruction is a sign of poor prognosis in lymphoma.     

Cholestatic hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosed by deposits of Lipiodol and treated by combination of endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage and transcatheter arterial embolization

Cholestatic hepatocellular carcinoma, which grows into the bile duct and causes obstructive jaundice, is rare and difficult to diagnose. A case is presented in which cholestatic hepatocellular carcinoma was detected by deposit of Lipiodol. This is also the first case that was successfully treated by endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage and transcatheter arterial embolization.     

Flucloxacillin induced delayed cholestatic hepatitis

We report four cases of severe delayed cholestatic hepatitis induced by flucloxacillin. All patients presented with deep jaundice and pruritus which developed soon after ceasing flucloxacillin. Liver function tests were abnormal in all patients with markedly elevated serum bilirubin concentration, alkaline phosphatase and aspartate transaminase levels. Extrahepatic biliary obstruction and infective hepatitis were excluded in all cases. Liver biopsies showed centrilobular cholestasis with portal and lobular inflammation and eosinophil infiltration. Although symptoms resolved within six weeks in all patients, cholestatic liver function tests have persisted in two patients for more than six months. With the increasing usage of this drug and the delayed presentation of cholestasis, flucloxacillin needs to be considered in the differential diagnosis of all patients presenting with cholestatic jaundice.     

A case of pancreatic malignant lymphoma diagnosed by EUS-FNA]

A 57-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital because of obstructive jaundice. Abdominal computed tomography and ultrasonography showed a homogeneous mass 7cm in diameter at the head of the pancreas. Gamma-scintigraphy showed uptake in the head of the pancreas. Histological diagnosis was obtained by endoscopic ultrasoundscopy-fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA). The pathological and immunohistochemical studies showed diffuse lymphoma with large B-cells. We experienced a rare case of pancreatic malignant lymphoma and EUS-FNA was usefull in the diagnosis.     

Pancreatic tuberculosis: an unusual cause of obstructive jaundice accessible to endoscopic management

Tuberculosis of the pancreas is unusual and often secondary to generalized tuberculosis. In most cases clinical presentation is obstructive jaundice due to pancreatic mass lesion. Although diagnosis is usually obtained after resection of the mass lesion, endoscopic procedures might avoid non-necessary surgical procedure. We report a clinical case of pancreatic tuberculosis diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration biopsy and treated by biliary stenting.     

An unusual cause of acute obstructive jaundice in an HIV-infected patient

We describe the case of an HIV-1-infected patient presenting with acute obstructive jaundice as the initial manifestation of primary small bowel Burkitt's lymphoma. The biliary obstruction resolved rapidly following chemotherapy without the need for surgical intervention. The prognosis is favourable with appropriate timely treatment.     

Stent versus surgery

Following the introduction of percutaneous and endoscopic biliary drainage there has been an ongoing debate about the indications and outcomes of endoscopic versus surgical drainage in a variety of bilio-pancreatic disorders. The evidence-based literature concerning four different areas of pancreatobiliary diseases have been reviewed. Preoperative endoscopic biliary drainage in patients with obstructive jaundice should not be used routinely but only in selected patients. For patients with biliary leakage and bile duct strictures after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, endoscopic stent therapy might be first choice and surgery should be used for failures of endoscopic treatment. Surgery is the treatment of choice after transection of the bile duct (the major bile duct injuries). The majority of patients with obstructive jaundice due to advanced pancreatic cancer will undergo endoscopic drainage but for relatively fit patients with a prognosis of more than 6 months, surgical drainage or even palliative resection might be considered. For patients with persistent pain due to chronic pancreatitis surgical drainage combined with limited pancreatic head resection might be first choice for pain relief. Most importantly, the management of patients with these pancreatobiliary diseases should be performed by a multidisciplinary HPB approach and teamwork consisting of gastroenterologists, radiologists and surgeons.     

Biliopancreatic fistula with portal vein thrombosis caused by a pancreatic pseudocyst

We encountered a very rare case of biliopancreatic fistula with portal vein thrombosis caused by pancreatic pseudocyst. A 57-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of abdominal pain, obstructive jaundice, and portal vein thrombosis due to acute pancreatitis. Computed tomography showed a 7-cm-diameter pseudocyst around the superior mesenteric vein extending towards the pancreatic head, dilatation of the intrahepatic bile duct, and portal vein thrombosis. Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography revealed a main pancreatic duct with a pseudocyst communicating with the common bile duct. After pancreatic sphincterotomy, a 7-F tube stent was endoscopically placed into the pseudocyst. However, a 6-F nasobiliary tube could not be inserted into the bile duct because the fistula had a tight stenosis. Subsequently, the patient’s abdominal pain improved, the pancreatic cyst disappeared, and the serum amylase level normalized. Two months after the endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage was required because the patient’s jaundice became aggravated. Two weeks after the choledochojejunostomy, the patient left the hospital in good condition. A follow-up computed tomography showed cavernous transformation of the portal vein and no pancreatic pseudocyst. The patient remains asymptomatic for 2 years and 7 months after surgery. Biliary drainage may be necessary for biliopancreatic fistula with obstructive jaundice in addition to pancreatic cyst drainage. Biliopancreatic fistula can be treated by endoscopic procedure in some cases; however, surgical treatment should be required in cases that are impossible to insert a biliary stent because of hard stricture.     

Common Bile Duct Obstruction Due to Pancreatic Involvement in the von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome

Pancreatic involvement in the von Hippel-Lindau syndrome occurs frequently, but is nearly always asymptomatic. Until now, only two cases of bile duct obstruction as a complication of this syndrome have been reported. We present another report of cholestatic jaundice in a patient with the von Hippel-Lindau syndrome and multiple pancreatic cystic lesions, treated by endoscopic implantation of a biliary stent.