Case presentation

Patient J.L.B.B., male, aged 46, with a background of depression without current pharmacological treatment, with bile duct prosthesis applied in 2002 for non-specified causes, cholecystectomy and extraction of the bile duct prosthesis in 2013. The patient presented repeated jaundice, and three episodes of acute cholangitis and pancreatitis. On January 30^th, 2016, he was admitted to the Urgency Room of San Juan de Dios de Curicó Hospital, upon being referred from Licantén Hospital due to a 3-day long epigastric upper abdominal pain that radiates to the back, which does not respond to intravenous analgesia and is associated to vomiting. When the patient was admitted skin and mucous were anicteric, abdomen soft and depressible, sensitive to palpation, diffusely predominant on the epigastrium, with absent abdominal sounds.

The requested laboratory tests reported as follows: leukocytes 20,8x10^3/uL, C-reactive protein 3.90 mg/dl, alkaline phosphatase 289.40U/L, total bilirubin 4,31mg/dl, indirect bilirubin 1.34 mg/dl, direct bilirubin 2.97 mg/dl, serum amylase 664 U/L and lipase 1521,5U/L, as well as abdominal and pelvic computed tomography scan with contrast, whose findings suggest acute pancreatitis, and dilation of the intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts. Therefore, it is not possible to discard choledocholithiasis and a small left renal cyst, whereby hospitalization for handling and study of his pathology is decided.

During hospitalization, an abdominal echotomography was requested (Figure 1) which shows a dilation of the intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts, aerobilia, dilated bile duct of approximately 15.7 mm with some small inner echogenic images that may correspond to choledocholithiasis and suggestive signs of acute pancreatitis, without free abdominal fluid. Moreover, a cholangiopancreatography was performed (Figure 2), which shows a low, centered dilation of the intrahepatic bile duct, of the confluence and common bile duct, associated to a cystic image dependent on the middle third of the bile duct with a lateral projection, which reaches a size of 2.2 x 1.3 x 1.3cm in diameter, thus corresponding to a Todani type II classification.

Upon resolution of the patient’s clinical presentation of acute pancreatitis, it was decided to perform a cystectomy with a biliodigestive derivation and Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy, as shown in Figure 3. The patient showed a hassle-free, favorable postoperative development, thus being discharged from hospital seven days after surgery. Fifteen days later in the same place outpatient control he showed no clinical complications. The biopsy report showed benign histology compatible with choledochal cyst.

Figure 1.

Ultrasound showing a dilated bile duct.

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Figure 2.

Cholangiopancreatography showing a cyst in the bile duct.

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Figure 3.

Choledochal cyst.

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Discussion

The choledochal cyst, based on its main etiologic mechanism, is usually diagnosed during childhood. Fifty percent of reported cases are diagnosed in the first ten years of life; however, 20% correspond to a late diagnosis, and half of them are recognized during adulthood through symptoms related to a bile duct pathology [15]. Given the facts shown in this case, it could be presumed that his diagnosis during adulthood responds to an eventual acquired condition, which is incidental to medical procedures rather to a congenital origin.

Bile duct cysts are associated to an increased risk of cancer, particularly cholangiocarcinoma, which considerably increases with age. It is associated to pediatric age patients in less than 1% of the cases, in contrast to those observed during adulthood, in which frequency ranges between 10 and 30%, even reaching 50% in patients older than 50 years of age, who have a poor survival rate. Evolution towards neoplasia is more common in patients with type I and IV cysts, and it is less frequent in patients with type II cysts, as the abovementioned case, who can be treated with a simple cyst excision [5],[16].

Diagnosis is mainly based on clinical suspicion. Some authors state that for adults the main symptom is abdominal pain, other authors propose that it is the typical triad characterized by jaundice, mass in right hypochondrium and abdominal pain, which is evidenced between 13% and 65% of the studied cases. However, there are new authors supporting pancreatitis as predominant clinical presentation, which is observed in 10% of the cases [17],[18]. Regarding the study methods, abdominal echography can determine up to 92% of the cases of cystic malformations of the bile duct, in which is described a diagnostic sensitivity between 71% and 97%, thus being able to precisely determine the size, contour and location of the cysts. This is a non-invasive, low-cost method, among other advantages; but, its results are observer-dependent.

One alternative includes an endoscopic ultrasonography, which allows a good visualization of the choledochal intrapancreatic portion. However, its limiting factor is the width of the equipment. The pelvic and abdominal CAT scan, which is useful in defining its size, location and continuity of the anomaly in the biliary tree, reaches a sensibility of 93%. Finally, the endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is able to define lower ductal anatomy and, specifically, the presence of abnormal joining between the bile duct and the pancreatic duct of Wirsung. Nevertheless, its disadvantages lie in the complications inherent to the procedure [17],[19]. Currently, the nuclear magnetic cholangiopancreatography (NMCP) may substitute endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, since it is a non-invasive exploration with lesser complications, and with a reported diagnosis certainty close to 100% in the study of choledochal cyst; however, it fails to be therapeutic [20],[21].

Handling patients with choledochal cysts depends on the type thereof. However, in general terms, the treatment of choice consists of complete excision of the cyst associated to cholecystectomy, with a reconstruction of the bile duct through a Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy [22],[23]. Usually, during this procedure it is preferred to use the traditional open surgery approach, which is not free of risks. Thus, the approach in current clinical practice tends to use minimally invasive surgeries, such as videolaparoscopy, which was incorporated in 1995 and there is an everyday evidence of cases successfully treated with this technique [24].

For patients with type II cyst, as in the case already exposed, whose risk of association with malignant transformation is extremely low, it is estimated that diverticulectomy by simple excision is sufficient [14]. However, patients with complicated clinical presentations, such as jaundice or malignancy in the cyst, may require a more extensive resection [25]. This is why, based on clinical signs, anatomical location and the experience of our service, we estimated that the surgical management used was the most appropriate.

Conclusions

As described, choledochal cysts are part of a complicated disease entity, over which there are still many debates. Based on the current classification system, different subtypes have different characteristics, from anatomy itself to carcinogenesis. The Todani Type II choledochal cyst is a rare entity, with low risk of malignancy, and whose etiology, classically shown as congenital, may have an acquired causal variant. This has been demonstrated in animal models, in which the bile duct has been altered, thus presenting secondarily dilation and cyst formation.

Nowadays, due to technological advances in imaging methods of the bile duct, a greater number of correct diagnoses is performed. However, there is still a large group of patients whose diagnosis is made during adulthood based on their clinical complications, which leads to think if it is a congenital cause with late diagnosis or, conversely, its etiology is rather the product of triggering or acquired factors, as the ones already mentioned. For this reason, it is extremely important to consider the association between cystic disease of the bile duct as a cause of various abdominal clinical presentations, in order to perform a timely diagnosis and management, thus avoiding complications and maintaining the health condition of patients.

Notes

From the editor
The authors originally submitted this article in Spanish and English. The Journal has not copyedited the English version.

Ethical aspects
The patient signed the informed consent requested by Medwave. A copy was sent to the Journal editorial board.

Conflicts of interest
The authors completed the ICMJE conflicts of interest declaration form, translated to Spanish by Medwave, and declare not having received funding for the preparation of this report, not having any financial relationships with organizations that could have interests in the published article in the last three years, and not having other relations or activities that might influence the article´s content. Forms can be requested to the responsible author or the editorial direction of the Journal.

Funding
The authors declare that there was no funding coming from external sources.