Choledochal Cyst
Choledochal cyst is a rare congenital anomaly resulting in dilatation of the common bile duct. There are five types described, and these range from diffuse dilation of the common bile duct alone to intrahepatic ductal dilatation. Infants and children may present with obstructive jaundice, acholic stools, hepatomegaly, or liver failure. Older children may present with cholangitis, pancreatitis, or biliary peritonitis. Occasionally choledochal cysts are found incidentally on imaging such as ultrasound, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography. It is generally recommended that choledochal cysts should be surgically excised when discovered, as they carry a risk of biliary carcinoma from chronic inflammation. Surgical management is most commonly performed by cyst excision followed by roux-en-y hepaticojejunostomy.
