title: Spontaneous perforation of the common bile duct in children.
abstract: The authors describe radiologic findings in five patients with spontaneous perforation of the common bile duct (a rare disorder). The patients were 5 weeks, 9 weeks, 3 months, 11 months, and 2 1/2 years old at presentation. The most common presenting complaints were jaundice and abdominal distention (due to ascites). Sonographic findings included ascites in three patients, a loculated fluid collection around the gallbladder in two patients, and both in one patient. The biliary tree was undilated in all patients. Results of hepatobiliary scintigraphy definitely demonstrated that intraperitoneal fluid originated from the biliary tract. Intraoperative cholangiography was used to confirm the diagnosis at surgery. All children were successfully treated with surgery. Recognition of these findings on sonograms and subsequent confirmation with scintigraphy are important to prevent delays in diagnosis of a potentially fatal condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn 11203.
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Haller
authors.forename: V R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Condon
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Berdon
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bowen
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D002758:Cholangiography; D003137:Common Bile Duct Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007098:Imino Acids; D007223:Infant; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D008297:Male; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D013667:Technetium; D019780:Technetium Tc 99m Lidofenin; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D007098:Imino Acids; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D019780:Technetium Tc 99m Lidofenin; D013667:Technetium; C003693:technetium Tc 99m PIPIDA