Dilatation of the cystic duct in patients with obstructive jaundice.
BACKGROUND
It is well known that obstructive jaundice causes biliary dilatation, but sonographic (US) findings of the cystic duct in patients with obstructive jaundice are rarely reported.


METHODS
We reviewed US findings in 25 such patients.


RESULTS
US findings of dilated cystic duct could be divided roughly into two patterns: tortuous and tubular. The former pattern was a tortuously dilated cystic duct arising from the gallbladder neck, running predominantly deeply, turning anteromedially, and then joining the posterior face of the common hepatic duct. The latter pattern was a straight dilated cystic duct running parallel with the common hepatic duct, giving the appearance of a septated bile duct.


CONCLUSIONS
A better understanding of the US findings of dilated cystic duct translates into improved biliary US diagnosis.
Konno
K
K
First Department of Internal Medicine, Akita University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo, Akita-City, Akita 010-8543, Japan.
Ishida
H
H
Sato
M
M
Naganuma
H
H
Komatsuda
T
T
Kimura
H
H
Ishida
J
J
Watanabe
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D003549:Cystic Duct / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography