Hepatic peribiliary cysts: multiple tiny cysts within the larger portal tract, hepatic hilum, or both.
OBJECTIVE
To describe characteristic imaging features of hepatic peribiliary cysts.


METHODS
Four patients with hepatic cysts in which the radiologic (n = 3) or histologic (n = 1) findings were consistent with peribiliary cysts of the liver (multiple small cysts seen exclusively in the larger portal tract, hepatic hilum, or both at gross examination and dilatations of extramural peribiliary gland at histologic examination) underwent computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound (US). In three patients, CT was performed after drip infusion of cholangiographic contrast material.


RESULTS
Contrast material-enhanced CT clearly depicted many tiny cysts along the larger portal veins up to the third- or fourth-order branch (n = 3). US depicted multiple cysts in the echogenic portal tract definitely (n = 2) or equivocally (n = 2). On cholangiographic contrast-enhanced CT scans, cystic areas were located adjacent to or surrounding the bile ducts, and the possibility of biliary dilatation, communication, or both was disproved.


CONCLUSIONS
Hepatic peribiliary cysts can be diagnosed with US and enhanced CT, especially with CT performed after administration of cholangiographic contrast material.
Itai
Y
Y
Department of Radiology, University of Tsukuba Institute of Clinical Medicine, Ibaraki, Japan.
Ebihara
R
R
Tohno
E
E
Tsunoda
H S
HS
Kurosaki
Y
Y
Saida
Y
Y
Doy
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002758:Cholangiography; D003287:Contrast Media; D003560:Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011168:Portal System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography
D003287:Contrast Media