title: Clinical classification of Caroli's disease: an analysis of 30 patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Caroli's disease (CD) is a rare congenital disorder. The early diagnosis of the disease and differentiation of types I and II are of extreme importance to patient survival. This study was designed to review and discuss observations in 30 patients with CD and to clarify the clinical characteristics of the disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  The demographic and clinical features, laboratory indicators, imaging findings and pathology results for 30 patients with CD were reviewed retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Caroli's disease can occur at any age. The average age of onset in the study cohort was 24 years. Patients who presented with symptoms before the age of 40 years were more likely to develop type II CD. Approximately one-third of patients presented without positive signs at original diagnosis and most of these patients were found to have type I CD on pathology. Anaemia, leucopoenia and thrombocytopoenia were more frequent in patients with type II than type I CD. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and computed tomography (CT) examinations were most useful in diagnosing CD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No typical symptoms, signs or laboratory indicators are able to distinguish CD from other conditions. Both MRCP and CT were most valuable in diagnosis. The two types of CD may be differentiated by age of onset and routine blood tests.
authors.affiliation: Department of Graduate School, 301 Hospital, Beijing, China; Integrative Medical Centre, 302 Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zhong-Xia
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yong-Gang
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Rui-Lin
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yong-Wu
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhi-Yan
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Li-Fu
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hui-Ying
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yun-Feng
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Ting-Ting
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Xiao-Feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiao-He
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016767:Caroli Disease / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D049448:Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance / Q000379:methods; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D035583:Rare Diseases; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015996:Survival Rate; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D055815:Young Adult