• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.203-208
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• 2018

Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe our treatment experiences with patients who had acute abdomen (AA) with common bile duct (CBD) dilatation. Methods: The treatment outcomes in children with AA and CBD dilatation were retrospectively reviewed. According to the shape of the intrahepatic bile ducts on ultrasonography (US), the origin of the pain was estimated as choledochal cyst (CC) complication or choledocholithiasis in normal CBD. Patients with complicated CC underwent surgery, and patients with choledocholithiasis in a normal appearing CBD underwent symptomatic treatment initially. Results: Of the 34 patients, 30 (88.2%) were female. The mean age of the patients was $6.4{\pm}4.9$ (range, 0.8-17) years. Seventeen (50.0%) patients had CBD stones and 17 (50.0%) did not. Surgical treatment was performed in 20 (58.8%) patients, 2 of whom underwent preoperative stone removal with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and an operation. Conservative treatment was applied in 12 (35.3%) patients (8 with and 4 without stones), 1 of whom developed symptom relapse and underwent an operation. Among the 8 patients with CBD stones, 4 (4/17, 23.5%) had complete resolution of the stones and recovery of the CBD diameter after conservative treatment. US findings of patients with stone showed a fusiform or cylindrical shape of the CBD in 14 (82.4%) patients. Conclusion: The presence of stones in the distal CBD and the US features of CBD dilatation may be helpful to diagnose and treat the causes of biliary dilatation. Conservative treatment can be considered as initial therapy in patients with uncomplicated CBD dilatation with stone.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.151-157
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• 2023

Backgrounds/Aims: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) can be classified as intrahepatic CCA or extrahepatic CCA (eCCA). We intended to analyze and reports the survival outcomes for eCCA. Methods: Surveillance, epidemiology, and end results (SEER) registry, site recode C24.0, was used to select cases of eCCA from 2000 to 2018. Patients with incomplete data or ages <18 years were excluded. Results: Male (52.69%) and White race (77.99%) predominated. Compared with 2000-2006, survival increased in 2013 (adjusted hazard ratio [HRadj]: 0.68, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.58-0.70; p < 0.01). Surgery with chemoradiotherapy (HRadj: 0.69, 95% CI 0.60-0.7; p < 0.01) and surgery with chemotherapy (HRadj: 0.72, 95% CI 0.62-0.83; p < 0.01) improved survival over surgery alone. Compared with surgery without lymph node (LN) removal, surgery of four or more regional LN reduced the risk of death by 58% (HRadj: 0.42, 95% CI 0.36-0.51; p < 0.01). Compared with patients without surgery, patients who underwent bile duct excision (HRadj: 0.82, 95% CI 0.72-0.94; p < 0.01), simple or extended lobectomy (HRadj: 0.85, 95% CI 0.75-0.95; p = 0.009), and hepatectomy (HRadj: 0.80, 95% CI 0.72-0.88; p < 0.01) significantly improved survival. Patients with distal CCA had a 17% higher survival than perihilar CCA (HRadj: 0.83, 95% CI 0.74-0.92; p < 0.01) and LN dissection was equally beneficial for both subgroups (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Surgery with chemoradiotherapy has a proven increase in the 5-year survival of the eCCA. LN resection, bile duct excision, lobectomy, and hepatectomy have better outcomes.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.96-104
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• 2024

Background/Aims: Selective bile duct or pancreatic duct cannulation remains a significant initial hurdle in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) despite advances in endoscopy and accessories. This study evaluated our experience with a rotatable sphincterotome in cases of difficult cannulation. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed ERCP cases using TRUEtome, a rotatable sphincterotome, as a rescue device for cannulation at a cancer institute in Japan from October 2014 to December 2021. Results: TRUEtome was used in 88 patients. Duodenoscopes were used for 51 patients, while single-balloon enteroscopes (SBE) were used for 37 patients. TRUEtome was used for biliary and pancreatic duct cannulation (84.1%), intrahepatic bile duct selection (12.5%), and strictures of the afferent limb (3.4%). Cannulation success rates were similar in the duodenoscope and SBE groups (86.3% vs. 75.7%, p=0.213). TRUEtome was more commonly used in cases with steep cannulation angles in the duodenoscope group and in cases requiring cannulation in different directions in the SBE group. There were no significant differences in adverse events between the two groups. Conclusions: The cannulation sphincterotome was useful for difficult cannulations in both unaltered and surgically altered anatomies. It may be an option to consider before high-risk procedures such as precut and endoscopic ultrasound-guided rendezvous techniques.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.122-127
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• 2022

Background/Aims: Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is warranted when cross-sectional imaging demonstrates common bile duct (CBD) dilatation without identifiable causes. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of EUS in CBD dilatation of unknown etiology. Methods: Retrospective review of patients with dilated CBD without definite causes undergoing EUS between 2012 and 2017. Results: A total of 131 patients were recruited. The mean age was 63.2±14.1 years. The most common manifestation was abnormal liver chemistry (85.5%). The mean CBD diameter was 12.2±4.1 mm. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of EUS-identified pathologies, including malignancy, choledocholithiasis, and benign biliary stricture (BBS), was 0.98 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.95-1.00). The AUROC of EUS for detecting malignancy, choledocholithiasis, and BBS was 0.91 (95% CI, 0.85-0.97), 1.00 (95% CI, 1.00-1.00), and 0.93 (95% CI, 0.87-0.99), respectively. Male sex, alanine aminotransferase ≥3× the upper limit of normal (ULN), alkaline phosphatase ≥3× the ULN, and intrahepatic duct dilatation were predictors for pathological obstruction, with odds ratios of 5.46 (95%CI, 1.74-17.1), 5.02 (95% CI, 1.48-17.0), 4.63 (95% CI, 1.1-19.6), and 4.03 (95% CI, 1.37-11.8), respectively. Conclusions: EUS provides excellent diagnostic value in identifying the etiology of CBD dilatation detected by cross-sectional imaging.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.83 no.3
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• pp.705-711
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• 2022

A 46-year-old male with alcoholic liver cirrhosis underwent a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) for refractory ascites. On the 9th day after the procedure, he presented with melena and decreasing hemoglobin levels. Hemobilia due to fistula formation between the right intrahepatic bile duct and right hepatic artery was suspected on computed tomography. Angiography revealed a fistula of the small branches of the hepatic segmental arteries, and right intrahepatic bile duct was confirmed; embolization was successfully performed with a coil for the eighth segmental hepatic artery, a glue-lipiodol mixture for the fifth segmental hepatic artery, and gelfoam slurry for the right anterior hepatic artery. However, 2 days after embolization, the patient died owing to aggravated disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. When gastrointestinal bleeding occurs after TIPS, careful evaluation is immediately required, and hemobilia should be considered.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.33-39
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• 2003

Purpose : Be aware of clinical possibilities on image quality by comparison of contrast-enhanced dynamic CT and MR imaging applied of MIP technique after the experimentally induced clonorchasis infection in dogs. Materials and Method : Twenty mongrel dogs prepared in zoo-laboratory were followed up with serial CT scans and MR imaging for 13 weeks after the experimental infection in liver. Two-phase helical CT was acquired in the supine position with the following scanning parameters. After the injection of contrast material, the arterial phase was initiated using a bolus-racking method. The portal phase scan was started 15 seconds after the arterial phase scan. CT protocol was determined after single level dynamic scans. MR imaging used the CP body coil and images get a 2D image using HASTE, FLASH, TSE pulse sequence. Bile duct MR imaging were obtained in three plans. Then each image was post processed by using target MIP algorithm. Two experimentation above, as a method of evaluation, one pathologist, three radiologist and five radiological technologist were analyzed visually for evaluation of following findings, enhancement of the bile duct wall, dilatation of bile duct tip, liver parenchyma, background suppression. Results : Five dogs was died of a disease after the infection, the rest one else shows the chronic dilatation of the intrahepatic bile duct with CT and MR imaging. Contrast administration of CT shows the contrast-enhanced of the bile duct walls with live parenchyma. MR imaging calculated of CNR and CR from pulse sequence for comparative evaluation and shows the pattern of the intrahepatic bile duct, dilatation of bile duct tip using MIP technique. CNR of the clonorchiasis, HASTE was $16{\pm}0.83$, TSE $7.06{\pm}3.0$, FLASH $1.19{\pm}0.2$ and CR, HASTE was 73.3%, TSE 62.3%, FLASH 6.4%. Conclusion : CT and MR imaging is very usefulness in diagnosis of dog clonorchiasis.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.122-126
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• 2012

Benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis (BRIC) is a rare autosomal recessive inherited disorder characterized by multiple recurrent episodes of severe cholestatic jaundice without obstruction of extrahepatic bile duct. We present the case of a 7-year-old boy with BRIC confirmed by mutation analysis in the ATP8B1 gene and typical clinical manifestation. Despite inheritance of BRIC, we detected a mutation on only one allele. To our knowledge, this is the first report of BRIC with a confirmed single heterozygote novel mutation in the ATP8B1 gene in Korea.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.458-462
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• 2022

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided hepaticogastrostomy (HGS) is widely performed not only as an alternative to transpapillary biliary drainage, but also as primary drainage for malignant biliary obstruction. For anatomical reasons, this technique carries an unavoidable risk of mispuncturing intrahepatic vessels. We report a technique for troubleshooting EUS-guided portal vein coiling to prevent bleeding from the intrahepatic portal vein after mispuncture during interventional EUS. EUS-HGS was planned for a 59-year-old male patient with unresectable pancreatic cancer. The dilated bile duct (lumen diameter, 2.8 mm) was punctured with a 19-gauge needle, and a guidewire was inserted. After bougie dilation, the guidewire was found to be inside the intrahepatic portal vein. Embolizing coils were placed to prevent bleeding. Embolization coils were successfully inserted under stabilization of the catheter using a double-lumen cannula with a guidewire. Following these procedures, the patient was asymptomatic. Computed tomography performed the next day revealed no complications.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.42-47
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• 2024

Backgrounds/Aims: Hepatolithiasis and choledocholithiasis are frequent pathologies and unfortunately, with the current treatment strategies, the recurrence incidence is still high. This study aimed to assess the outcomes of laparoscopic choledochotomy using cholangioscopy via the percutaneous-choledochal tube for the treatment of hepatolithiasis and choledocholithiasis in Vietnamese patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study of patients with hepatolithiasis and/or choledocholithiasis who underwent laparoscopic choledochotomy using intraoperative cholangioscopy via percutaneous-choledochal tube at the Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, 108 Military Central Hospital, from June 2017 to March 2020. Results: A total of 84 patients were analyzed. Most patients were females (56.0%) with a median age of 55.56 years. Among them, 41.8% of patients had previous abdominal operations, with 33.4% having choledochotomy. All patients underwent successful laparoscopic common bile duct exploration followed by T-tube drainage without needing to convert to open surgery. Most patients (64.3%) had both intrahepatic and extrahepatic stones. The rate of stones ≥ 10 mm in diameter was 64.3%. Biliary strictures were observed in 19.1% of patients during cholangioscopy. Complete removal of stones was achieved in 54.8% of patients. Intraoperative complications were encountered in two patients, but there was no need to change the strategy. The mean operating time was 121.85 ± 30.47 minutes. The early postoperative complication rate was 9.6%, and all patients were managed conservatively. The residual stones were removed through the T-tube tract by subsequent choledochoscopy in 34/38 patients, so the total success rate was 95.2%. Conclusions: Laparoscopic choledochotomy combined with cholangioscopy through the percutaneous-choledochal tube is a safe and effective strategy for hepatolithiasis and/or choledocholithiasis, even in patients with a previous choledochotomy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.85 no.3
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• pp.581-595
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• 2024

Purpose The present study aimed to investigate the frequency and extent of compensatory common bile duct (CBD) dilatation after cholecystectomy, assess the time between cholecystectomy and CBD dilatation, and identify potentially useful CT findings suggestive of obstructive CBD dilatation. Materials and Methods This retrospective study included 121 patients without biliary obstruction who underwent multiple CT scans before and after cholecystectomy at a single center between 2009 and 2011. The maximum short-axis diameters of the CBD and intrahepatic duct (IHD) were measured on each CT scan. In addition, the clinical and CT findings of 11 patients who were initially excluded from the study because of CBD stones or periampullary tumors were examined to identify distinguishing features between obstructive and non-obstructive CBD dilatation after cholecystectomy. Results The mean (standard deviation) short-axis maximum CBD diameter of 121 patients was 5.6 (± 1.9) mm in the axial plane before cholecystectomy but increased to 7.9 (± 2.6) mm after cholecystectomy (p < 0.001). Of the 106 patients with a pre-cholecystectomy axial CBD diameter of < 8 mm, 39 (36.8%) showed CBD dilatation of ≥ 8 mm after cholecystectomy. Six of the 17 patients with long-term (> 2 years) serial follow-up CT scans (35.3%) eventually showed a significant (> 1.5-fold) increase in the axial CBD diameter, all within two years after cholecystectomy. Of the 121 patients without obstruction or related symptoms, only one patient (0.1%) showed IHD dilatation > 3 mm after cholecystectomy. In contrast, all 11 patients with CBD obstruction had abdominal pain and abnormal laboratory indices, and 81.8% (9/11) had significant dilatation of the IHD and CBD. Conclusion Compensatory non-obstructive CBD dilatation commonly occurs after cholecystectomy to a similar extent as obstructive dilatation. However, the presence of relevant symptoms, significant IHD dilatation, or further CBD dilatation 2-3 years after cholecystectomy should raise suspicion of CBD obstruction.