title: Choledochal cysts in the adult.
abstract: Although choledochal cyst is generally considered a disorder of childhood, in approximately 20% of patients a cyst is first recognized in adult life. We reviewed nine adults who underwent operation for choledochal cyst from 1974-1985 at Yale New Haven Hospital. Presenting symptoms included: crampy right upper quadrant pain, jaundice, pruritus, cholangitis, pancreatitis, hepatomegaly, and elevated liver function tests. Seven patients had undergone previous biliary surgery. The eight patients with type I cysts underwent complete excision of the cysts with Roux-Y choledochojejunostomy. One patient with a type IVa cyst underwent Roux-Y cystjejunostomy. All patients had complete resolution of biliary symptoms. There were no deaths, serious complications, or development of biliary malignancy in the 6 months to 13 years of follow-up. Optimum treatment of choledochal cyst is complete excision with reconstruction by Roux-Y choledochojejunostomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gertler
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Cahow
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015529:Choledochal Cyst / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D002768:Choledochostomy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies