Congenital choledochal cysts
K. Muakkasah, S. Obeid and M. Slim
Cystic dilation of the common bile duct is a rare congenital anomaly. The
cases of two patients, 2 1/2 and 18 years old, respectively, illustrate the
difficulty in preoperative diagnosis, as well as the value of long-term
postoperative follow-up. Ascending cholangitis developed in one of the
patients after a Roux-en-Y cystojejunostomy nine years after operation. A
follow-up of three years after cystoduodenostomy and 14 years after a
hepaticojejunostomy is reported. In infants and small children, a
cystoduodenostomy is usually done; otherwise, cystojejunostomy should be
the preferred initial operation. Excision may be attempted if the cyst is
very small, and in selected cases.
