title: Asymptomatic Bile Duct Dilatation in Children: Is It a Disease?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Bile duct dilatation is a relatively common sonographic finding; nevertheless, its clinical significance in children is controversial because little research has been done in the area. Therefore, we investigated the natural course and clinical significance of biliary duct dilatation in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective study of 181 children (range, 1-day-old to 17-year-old) in whom dilatation of the intrahepatic duct and/or common hepatic duct and/or common bile duct was detected by abdominal ultrasonography at the Severance Children's Hospital between November 2005 and March 2014. We reviewed and analyzed laboratory test results, clinical manifestations, and clinical course in these patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pediatric patients (n=181) were enrolled in the study and divided into two groups. The first group included 59 subjects, without definitive cause of bile duct dilatation, who did not require treatment; the second group included 122 subjects, with definitive cause of bile duct dilatation or underlying biliary disease, who did require treatment. In the first group, 24 patients (40.7%) showed spontaneous resolution of bile duct dilatation, 20 patients (33.9%) showed no change, and 15 patients (25.4%) were lost to follow-up. In the second group, 31 patients were diagnosed with choledochal cysts, and 91 patients presented with biliary tract dilatations due to secondary causes, such as gallbladder or liver disease, post-operative complications, or malignancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Biliary dilatation in pediatric patients without symptoms, and without laboratory and other sonographic abnormalities, showed a benign clinical course. No pathologic conditions were noted on follow-up ultrasonography.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Severance Children's Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yeo Ju
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Son
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Mi Jung
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Severance Children's Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Severance Children's Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Biliary tract diseases; Child; Dilatation