Clinical significance of anomalous pancreaticobiliary union.
Anomalous pancreaticobiliary union was found in nine cases among 300 consecutive adult patients examined by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Three had congenital choledochal cysts: one had a cyst of the choledochus associated with a cyst of the intrahepatic bile duct, another had a fusiform dilation of the choledochus, and the third had a choledochal diverticulum. Five of the nine patients had biliary malignancies (55.6%): four carcinomas of the gallbladder and one carcinoma of the choledochus. On the other hand, 18 of 291 patients without anomalous pancreaticobiliary union had biliary malignancies (6.2%): four carcinomas of the gallbladder and 14 carcinomas of the choledochus. When anomalous pancreaticobiliary union is detected, biliary malignancy, especially carcinoma of the gallbladder, should be considered as a possible complication.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000002:abnormalities*; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D003137:Common Bile Duct Diseases / Q000151:congenital; D003138:Common Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D003560:Cysts / Q000151:congenital; D005260:Female; D005706:Gallbladder Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000002:abnormalities*