title: Choledochal cyst: a review of 19 cases.
abstract: Nineteen cases of choledochal cyst are reviewed. Two distinct groups of patients were identified. Patients under one year of age, initially diagnosed as having biliary atresia, had a higher mortality rate, a higher incidence of severe cirrhosis with portal hypertension, and associated atresia or stenosis in the biliary tree. The second group, presenting between 3 and 20 years of age with more classic symptoms, had mild cirrhosis without portal hypertension and had associated choledocholithiasis and pancreatitis. It is suggested that the younger patients had a congenital form of cystic bile duct dilatation and that the older patients had an acquired form, perhaps related to a common channel with reflux of pancreatic juice into the common bile duct. Postoperative follow-up supports the current view that choledochocyst-jejunostomy with choleystectomy has a lower rate of long-term complications than does choledochocyst-duodenostomy.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003135:Common Bile Duct / Q000601:surgery; D003560:Cysts / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006529:Hepatomegaly / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007567:Jaundice, Neonatal / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male