Biliary stricture due to neuroma after an innocent blunt abdominal trauma

A traumatic neuroma of the biliary tract is rarely associated with biliary obstruction. However, when it arises in the common bile duct (CBD) and is associated with obstructive jaundice, it is difficult to distinguish it from bile duct cancer. We describe a patient who developed obstructive jaundice and itching, due to CBD stricture, 8 years after innocent blunt abdominal trauma. The stricture was resected and hepatico-jejunal anastomosis was performed. Histological examination revealed a traumatic neuroma and a fibrous scar around the common bile duct. Symptoms disappeared following surgical removal of the lesion. Blunt abdominal injury may cause the late onset of a fibrous scar and traumatic neuroma in the common bile duct. To our knowledge, a traumatic neuroma of the biliary tract after blunt abdominal trauma has not been reported previously. We review the clinical picture of this relatively rare problem, along with its diagnosis, pathogenesis and treatment.     

Primary extranodal non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma of the common bile duct manifesting as obstructive jaundice: Report of a case

Primary non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) of the common bile duct (CBD) manifesting as obstructive jaundice is extremely rare: to our knowledge, only 22 cases of primary NHL arising from the CBD have been reported. The patient in this case report was a 63-year-old man who presented with obstructive jaundice. Abdominal sonography, positron emission tomography, and computed tomography showed a mass with abnormal 18-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in pancreatic head. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography demonstrated a strictured segment of the CBD with proximal bile duct dilatation. We performed pancreaticoduodenectomy for a presumptive diagnosis of pancreatic head carcinoma or cholangiocarcinoma of the CBD. However, the histological diagnosis was a primary, diffuse, large B-cell lymphoma of the CBD. He received three courses of combination chemotherapy, including rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP). The patient remains well, without evidence of tumor recurrence, 8 months after surgery. In summary, primary NHL of the CBD, despite its rarity, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of obstructive jaundice. An accurate histopathologic diagnosis and complete surgical resection, followed by combination chemotherapy plus rituximab may be effective.     

Should surgeons operate on the evidence of ultrasound alone in jaundiced patients?

The biliary ultrasound scans of 132 patients having a laparotomy for jaundice have been reviewed to assess the role of ultrasound in the selection of patients for surgery. When scans were technically satisfactory the finding of a dilated extrahepatic duct (EHD) indicated obstructive jaundice in all cases, but the obstructing lesion in 5 per cent of such cases was too proximal for jaundice to be relieved by direct surgical decompression. Scans were further classified on the basis of abnormalities detected in the gallbladder. When EHD dilation was associated with gall bladder findings 'typical' of distal common bile duct (CBD) obstruction due to gall stones (small gallbladder with multiple gallstones) or tumour (dilated gallbladder without gallstones), surgically remediable obstruction was always present. Although ultrasound identified the obstructing lesion itself in a minority of cases, the cause of obstruction could be correctly inferred in 95 per cent of 'typical' scans. These results suggest that it is safe to proceed directly to surgery only when an experienced ultrasonographer demonstrates findings 'typical' of distal CBD obstruction due to gallstones or tumour.     

Granular cell tumour of the common bile duct

Granular cell tumors (GCTs) are rare soft tissue neoplasms and occur in different parts of the body. We report a case of granular cell tumour of common bile duct (CBD) in a 39 years old lady, presenting with obstructive jaundice. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) showed it as a benign looking mass in CBD. Complete surgical excision of the tumour was done. Histopathology was confirmatory. No histological evidence of malignancy was found.     

An unusual case of jaundice: Biliary tumor thrombus in fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma

BackgroundFibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FL-HCC) is a rare and unique variant of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) whose presentation remains inadequately described. We present a resectable case of FL-HCC which involved tumor thrombus of the common bile duct.PresentationA 27 year-old male presenting with jaundice, abdominal pain, vomiting, hepatic dysfunction and hyperbilirubinemia was found to have a large liver mass and lymphadenopathy on preoperative imaging. A right hepatectomy with perihepatic lymph node dissection and cholecystectomy was performed. Intraoperative cholangiogram demonstrated common bile duct (CBD) obstruction. CBD exploration revealed biliary tumor thrombus relieved with biliary thrombectomy.DiscussionFL-HCC can initially present with invading obstructing biliary tumor thrombus of the CBD causing jaundice.ConclusionPreoperative surgical approach should consider CBD exploration on an individual basis for underlying obstructive biliary tumor thrombus.     

Successful Cystic Fenestration for a Macrocystic Serous Cystadenoma of the Pancreas Causing Obstructive Jaundice: Report of a Case

A 72-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for investigation of jaundice. We made a preoperative diagnosis of macrocystic serous cystadenoma (SCA) of the pancreas, but did not perform palliative choledochojejunostomy because aspiration of the pancreatic cystic fluid caused the cysts to shrink and relieved the compressive stenosis of the common bile duct (CBD) during the operation. Frozen sections of the cyst wall taken by incision biopsy showed no signs of malignancy. Therefore, we performed fenestration of the cystic wall after fixing the inner epithelium of the cyst with 100% ethanol and aspirating the cystic fluid. Cholangiography after the cystic fenestration showed resolution of the CBD stenosis and abdominal computed tomography (CT) confirmed the disappearance of the pancreatic cysts. No recurrence of cystic swelling or obstructive jaundice has been detected by abdominal CT or laboratory data for more than 2 years since the cystic fenestration. Thus, cystic fenestration may be a better palliative option for treating benign compressive tumors such as macrocystic SCA of the pancreas causing obstructive jaundice.     

Schwannoma of common bile duct causing obstructive jaundice

Benign schwannomas arise from neural crest-derived Schwann cells. Schwannomas occurring in the biliary tract become clinically symptomatic due to their compression on the extra hepatic biliary tract causing obstructive jaundice. Their preoperative diagnosis is extremely difficult. We report a 38-year-old male who presented with pain abdomen and jaundice. Computed tomography of abdomen showed extra luminal compression of common bile duct (CBD) possibly by a lymph nodal mass. Resection of the CBD, gall bladder and the mass compressing the CBD with Rouxen-Y hepaticojejunostomy was performed. The final histopathology was reported as a schwannoma.     

Effect of different enteral nutrients on bacterial translocation in experimental obstructive jaundice

Obstructive jaundice leads to bacterial translocation (BT) by disruption of the gut barrier, intestinal microecology, and impaired host immune defence. The objective of the present study is to investigate the effects of different enteral nutrients on BT that is induced by obstructive jaundice in rats. Eighty male Wistar-Albino rats were randomly assigned into 4 groups. Group 1: 20 rats underwent laparotomy, common bile duct (CBD) was not actually ligated and transected, but sham ligation of CBD was performed. Groups 2-4: 60 rats underwent laparotomy, CBD ligation and transection. Group 1 and 2 rats were given rat chow, group 3 rats were fed a glutamine and arginine supplemented enteral diet, and group 4 rats were fed an arginine, m-RNA and omega-3 supplemented enteral diet, an immunonutrient. Rats in groups 3 and 4 had significantly less BT to mesenteric lymph nodes compared to rats in group 2 (p = 0.001). These findings suggest that oral administration of an arginine and glutamine supplemented diet and immunonutrition reduce BT in rats with obstructive jaundice.     

Improvement of portal flow and hepatic microcirculatory tissue flow with N-acetylcysteine in dogs with obstructive jaundice produced by bile duct ligation.

OBJECTIVE: To find out if N-acetylcysteine (NAC) would improve hepatic circulation in dogs with obstructive jaundice. DESIGN: Open laboratory study. SETTING: University hospitals, Japan and France. MATERIALS: 14 male beagle dogs and 10 male Wistar rats. INTERVENTIONS: Obstructive jaundice was produced by ligation of the common bile duct (CBD) for 7 days in both dogs and rats. Either 5% dextrose (control group, n = 7) or NAC (NAC group, n = 7) was given to dogs. Sinusoidal endothelial cells were obtained from rats after ligation by elutriation, and varying amounts of NAC were given. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The volumes of portal blood flow and hepatic microcirculatory tissue flow were reduced after ligation of the CBD, but those increased after NAC had been given to dogs with obstructive jaundice. NAC increased the concentrations of plasma cyclic 3',5'-guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). It also increased concentrations of serum and hepatic-reduced glutathione, and hepatic adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in cholestatic dogs, and secretion of cGMP from sinusoidal endothelial cells from rats with obstructive jaundice. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that NAC given intravenously effectively improves hepatic circulation and hepatic function in dogs with obstructive jaundice.     

Impact of biliary tract endoscopy on benign and malignant diseases

Summary In the last 15 years, the management of patients affected with obstructive jaundice has been greatly improved by the introduction into clinical practice of diagnostic and therapeutic biliary tract endoscopy. This method has provided better knowledge of the pathophysiology of diseases of the common bile duct (CBD), with enormous benefit for surgical decision making. Moreover, it has reduced morbidity and mortality in emergency patients as well as in high-risk patients with CBD stones. Even the incidence of retained stones has been reduced to almost 1%–2%. The impact of endoscopy on diseases of the biliary tract has been tremendous. Presented at the International Congress on Surgical Endoscopy, Ultrasound, and Interventional Techniques, Berlin 1988     

Impaction of a Shrapnel Splinter in the Common Bile Duct After Migrating from the Right Thoracic Cavity: Report of a Case

Biliary obstruction is rarely caused by a foreign body. This report describes the case of a 60-year-old Japanese man with jaundice caused by an impacted shrapnel splinter in the common bile duct (CBD) that had migrated from the right thoracic cavity 36 years after initial injury. Biochemical data showed a total bilirubin level of 4.2 mg/dl with a direct bilirubin level of 3.1 mg/dl, an alanine aminotransferase level of 24 IU/l, and an alkaline phosphatase level of 18.5 KA units. It was serially documented that the shrapnel had migrated toward the diaphragm, then burrowed into the liver, settling in the CBD, and causing obstructive jaundice. Choledochotomy and T-tube drainage was performed and the postoperative course was uneventful. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of this type of occurrence in the Japanese literature. Although there are few reports of combat injury in Japan, this diagnosis should be considered in the evaluation of any patient with jaundice who has suffered a previous chest wound involving a foreign body. Received: March 14, 2001 / Accepted: September 11, 2001     

Carcinoid tumor of the common bile duct in children: a case report

Carcinoid tumors of common bile duct (CBD) are rare, with fewer than 60 cases reported worldwide. Typically, jaundice is the most common presenting symptom. Preoperative diagnosis is difficult because methods for obtaining adequate specimens for histologic analysis are limited. Surgery is the primary treatment for CBD carcinoids to have disease-free survival. This is a case report concerning a 10-year-old boy with a carcinoid tumor of the CBD. An overview of the clinical presentation, diagnosis, radiologic workup, surgical treatment, histologic features, and prognosis of carcinoid tumor is provided.     

Limitations of fluoroscopic intraoperative cholangiography in cases suggestive of choledocholithiasis

BACKGROUND: Fluoroscopic intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) has been proposed as a safe and accurate screening method for choledocholithiasis, with a sensitivity and specificity of nearly 100% in selected cases. In the present study we retrospectively reviewed the diagnostic accuracy of IOC in cases highly suggestive of choledocholithiasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1999 and December 2002, 103 patients underwent IOC as an imaging method for common bile duct (CBD) stone detection. We did not routinely perform IOC in all patients who were submitted to laparoscopic cholecystectomy, reserving the method for patients with a high probability of choledocholithiasis, namely patients with a history or the presence of painful obstructive jaundice at the time of referral, patients with a history of mild acute pancreatitis of biliary origin, and patients with abnormalities in their liver biochemistry profile as measured by liver function tests (LFT). RESULTS: The mean rates of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) for IOC were 98%, 94%, 94.5%, and 98% for the whole series, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy was 100% in patients with a history of obstructive jaundice or liver biochemical derangement, but was less in patients with a history of biliary pancreatitis. There were 3 false positive cases and 1 case of false negative results, all of which occurred in the subgroup of patients with a history of pancreatitis. CONCLUSION: Selective fluoroscopic IOC is generally feasible and safe, as well as highly accurate (100%) for CBD stone detection in patients with obstructive jaundice or abnormal LFT. The PPV of the method decreases in patients with a history of pancreatitis (75%), while a negative result is highly suggestive of the absence of CBD stones (NPV = 98%). The present study concluded in a higher incidence of false results in patients with a normal size CBD, suggesting that the diagnostic accuracy of IOC is probably related to the size of the CBD rather than the indication for its performance.     

Late choledochal pathology after cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis

After "simple" cholecystectomy for lithiasis, biliary disorders can appear, with the onset more than 3 years postoperative, like cholangitis or transitory jaundice. Meantime, a whole range of congenital abnormalities initially ignored can become manifest: biliary tract congenital dilatations, duodenal para-Vater diverticulum, Oddi stenosis. Aim: to establish the pathological circumstances that determine late choledochal syndrome, including an analysis concerning the therapeutical approach in these cases. Patients with cholecystectomy complains of late biliary disorders (least 3 years symptom-free) between 1997-2005, were retrospectively studied. Exclusion criteria were intraoperative incidents or accidents, recognised incomplete surgical procedure, early difficult postoperative course. Therapeutical approach was endoscopical, surgical or conservative. 46 patients entered the study group; 38 underwent open cholecystectomy. Mean interval between operation and disturbances onset was 10 years. Following etiopathologic causes of late choledochal pathology were recorded: incomplete cholecystectomy, retained or primary common bile duct (CBD) stones, choledochal cyst or stenosis, Oddi stenosis, duodenal para-Vater diverticulum, anomaly biliary tree. Thirty patients undergone successful endoscopic treatment; in 8 cases endoscopy failed, in 2 cases open surgery was the first choice; 5 diagnostic endoscopic cholangiography with conservative treatment were performed; 1 patient refused any procedure. Cholecystectomy indication is regularly based on clinical and ultrasound examination criteria. Even a simple cholecystectomy can be followed after first 3 years by cholangitis, obstructive jaundice, caused by initially ignored biliary tract pathology. To avoid such omissions, routine intraoperative cholangiography and duodenal endoscopy should precede cholecystectomy. On the other side, cholecystectomy itself can cause late complaints: retained CBD stones, gallbladder stump, and iatrogenic stenosis. The duodenal para-Vater diverticulum seems to have a more important role in biliary disturbances, before and after cholecystectomy.     

A late unusual complication after an open cholecystectomy: Amputation neuroma of the CBD causing obstructive jaundice

IntroductionCholecystectomy is one of the most frequently done procedures in general surgery. There are few reports of amputation neuromas following this procedure. This presentation describes a case of obstructive jaundice due to amputation neuroma in a patient with a history of cholecystectomy.Case presentationWe report about a 53 y o lady who presented with obstructive jaundice, 8 years following open cholecystectomy. Paraclinical investigations were in favor of cholangicarcinoma, however the final pathology revealed an amputation neuroma of the CBD.DiscussionAmputation neuromas are rarely seen in the era of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. They are benign reparative lesions of the CBD following surgery or manipulation of the extra hepatic biliary tree. It is very difficult to diagnose them pre-operatively. Surgical resection is the first choice of treatment.ConclusionTraumatic neuromas should always be among the differential diagnosis, when assessing a CBD mass in patients with a previous history of open cholecystectomy or surgery to the gastrointestinal tract.     

Primary yolk sac tumor of the common bile duct

Yolk sac tumor (YST) is a germ cell neoplasm usually arising from the gonads. Extragonadal YST has been reported in the mediastinum, retroperitoneum, liver, and pelvis. Primary YST of the common bile duct (CBD) has not been previously reported. We describe an 11-month-old girl with a YST arising from the CBD who presented with obstructive jaundice. Imaging studies revealed an intraluminal CBD mass with intrahepatic biliary dilatation and extraluminal infiltration of the head of the pancreas. A complete resection was carried out, and postoperative chemotherapy with cisplatin, etoposide and bleomycin was administered.     

Pancreatobiliary and pancreatoduodenal fistulae in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas: report of a case

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) of the pancreas present more commonly in the elderly. This report describes a case of IPMN in a 36-year-old man who presented with obstructive jaundice and weight loss. The initial investigation by computed tomography scan revealed a cystic lesion in the head of pancreas fistulating into the duodenum and the common bile duct (CBD). Subsequent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography revealed a low CBD stricture with proximal filling defects. Mucin was observed extruding from the biliary orifice following an endoscopic sphincterotomy. A classic Whipple’s pancreatoduodenectomy was performed to excise the lesion. A histological examination of the lesion confirmed the presence of a malignant IPMN of the pancreas complicated by pancreatobiliary and pancreatoduodenal fistulae.     

Diagnosis and surgical treatment of obstructive jaundice in benign diseases

The article analyses the results of the diagnosis and surgical treatment of obstructive jaundice caused by benign diseases in 279 patients. Cholelithiasis was the cause of obstructive jaundice in 82.4% of patients; in 30.3% of cases the clinical symptomatology of the disease was atypical due to which the patients were at first placed erroneously in hospitals for infectious diseases. Endoscopic methods of examination proved to be most informative: the informativeness of ERP was 91%, that of combined laparoscopy--98.5%. Choledochoduodenostomy is the operation of choice in choledocholithiasis, and double drainage after O.B. Milonov--in combination of obstructive choledocholithiasis with papillostenosis.     

内镜下胆管引流术治疗梗阻性黄疸

目的探讨内镜下胆管引流术对梗阻性黄疸的治疗价值。方法回顾性分析我院1998年10月～2007年5月行内镜下胆管引流术治疗梗阻性黄疸119例的临床资料。本组良性梗阻性黄疸66例中行内镜下鼻胆管引流术(ENBD)58例,失败的8例改行手术治疗;恶性梗阻性黄疸53例中行内镜下塑料支架引流术(ERBD)23例,行内镜下金属支架引流术(EMBE)18例,ENBD减黄后实施手术6例,穿刺置管失败转经皮经肝穿刺胆道置管引流术6例。结果良、恶性梗阻性黄疸病人经内镜下胆管引流术治疗术后1周内血清胆红素明显下降(P<0.05、P<0.01)。结论内镜下胆管引流术治疗梗阻性黄疸具有疗效好、微创、并发症少等优点,有较高的临床运用价值。     

Excision of a juxtapapillary duodenal diverticulum causing biliary obstruction: report of three cases

We report three cases of biliary obstruction caused by a juxtapapillary duodenal diverticulum that were treated by excision of the diverticulum. A 72-year-old man, a 77-year-old woman, and an 81-year-old woman each presented with recurrent obstructive jaundice. Diagnostic imaging revealed a juxtapapillary duodenal diverticulum compressing the common bile duct (CBD). Following cholecystectomy, the diverticulum between the intrapancreatic CBD and pancreatic parenchyma was isolated and excised successfully in each case. The patients have been followed up for 34, 31, and 22 months, respectively. In one patient, choledocholithiasis developed 33 months after the surgery, necessitating endoscopic sphincterotomy. Duodenal diverticulectomy is a useful procedure to relieve biliary obstruction caused by a juxtapapillary duodenal diverticulum. However, it remains unclear whether excision of the diverticulum is preferred to biliodigestive anastomosis from the point of view of long-term prognosis. Subsequent surveillance is necessary.