Korean J Gastroenterol.  2012 Aug;60(2):119-122. 10.4166/kjg.2012.60.2.119.

A Case of Hepatic Peribiliary Cysts in a Patient with Alcoholic Liver Cirrhosis

• Seo JY
• Oh TH
• Jeon TJ
• Seo DD
• Shin WC
• Choi WC

• KMID: 1387341
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4166/kjg.2012.60.2.119

Abstract

Hepatic peribiliary cysts (HPCs) are characterized by cystic dilatations of the peribiliary glands located throughout the branches of the biliary systems. Specifically, they are mainly located along the hepatic hilum and major portal tracts. The natural history and prognosis of HPCs are uncertain. In fact, almost all HPCs have been discovered incidentally during radiological examination or autopsy, and they are considered to be clinically harmless. Recently, several cases of HPCs associated with obstructive jaundice or liver failure were reported in patients with pre-existing liver disease in several studies. However, until now there have been no reports of such a case in Korea. Herein, we report a case of HPCs that show a disease course with a poor prognosis. These HPCs developed in a 47-year-old man with progressive alcoholic liver cirrhosis.

Keyword

Liver; Peribiliary cyst; Alcoholic liver cirrhosis

MeSH Terms

Bile Duct Diseases/complications/*diagnosis/radiography
Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance
Cysts/*complications/radiography
Humans
Jaundice, Obstructive/etiology
Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic/complications/*diagnosis/radiography
Male
Middle Aged
Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Coronary view of abdominal computed tomography showed cirrhotic liver and ascites without hepatic peribiliary cysts.

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  Fig. 2 Serial changes of follow-up abdominal computed tomography imaging. (A) Multiple, variable sized cystic lesions in the hepatic hilum and the large portal tracts (black arrows) were newly noted at the time of 38 months after diagnosis of alcoholic liver cirrhosis. (B) Hepatic peribiliary cysts (black arrows) increased in number and size at the time of 42 months after diagnosis of alcoholic liver cirrhosis.

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  Fig. 3 Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticography showed that multiple peribiliary cysts along the hepatic ducts, especially at the hepatic hilum and the left branch, represented as hyperintense on T2-weighted image. (A) T2-weighted coronary view (arrow). (B) T2-weighted axial view (arrow). (C) Maximum-intensity-projection reformation images.

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