Peribiliary cysts, otherwise known as cystic dilatation of the peribiliary glands, are uncommon, and are usually discovered incidentally at autopsy, or in explants following liver transplantation. Preoperative diagnosis is often difficult owing to their asymptomatic nature and small size. Exclusion of a premalignant or malignant cystic condition is mandatory. We report a case of peribiliary cysts, initially thought to represent Caroli’s disease, and briefly discuss the management of this condition.
Terada T, Nakanuma Y, Ohta G. Glandular elements around the intrahepatic bile ducts in man; their morphology and distribution in normal livers. Liver7:1-81987
2.
Nakanuma Y, Kurumaya H, Ohta G. Multiple cysts in the hepatic hilum and their pathogenesis. A suggestion of periductal gland origin. Virchows Arch A Pathol Anat Histopathol404:341-3501984
3.
Terada T, Nakanuma Y. Pathological observations of intrahepatic peribiliary glands in 1,000 consecutive autopsy livers. III. Survey of necroinflammation and cystic dilatation. Hepatology12:1229-12331990
4.
Baron RL, Campbell WL, Dodd GD III. Peribiliary cysts associated with severe liver disease: Imagingpathologic correlation. Am J Roentgenol162:631-6361994
5.
Seguchi T, Akiyama Y, Itoh H, et al. Multiple hepatic peribiliary cysts with cirrhosis. J Gastroenterol39:384-3902004
6.
Stevens W, Harford W, Lee E. Obstructive jaundice due to multiple hepatic peribiliary cysts. Am J Gastroenterol91:155-1571996
7.
Wanless IR, Zahradnik J, Heathcote EJ. Hepatic cysts of periductal gland origin presenting as obstructive jaundice. Gastroenterology93:894-8981987
8.
Portmann BC, Nakanuma Y. Diseases of the intrahepatic bile ducts. In Mac Sween R, Burt A, Portmann B, et al, (eds). Pathology of the liver. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, pp. 435-506, 2002
9.
Nakanuma Y. Peribiliary cysts have at least two different pathogeneses. J Gastroenterol39:407-4082004
10.
Kida T, Nakanuma Y, Terada T. Cystic dilatation of peribiliary glands in livers with adult polycystic disease and livers with solitary nonparasitic cysts: An autopsy study. Hepatology16:334-3401992
11.
Fujioka Y, Kawamura N, Tanaka S, et al. Multiple hilar cysts of the liver in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis: Report of three cases. J Gastroenterol Hepatol12:137-1431997
12.
Itai Y, Ebihara R, Tohno E, et al. Hepatic peribiliary cysts: Multiple tiny cysts within the larger portal tract, hepatic hilum, or both. Radiology191:107-1101994
13.
Motoo Y, Yamaguchi Y, Watanabe H, et al. Hepatic peribiliary cysts diagnosed by magnetic resonance cholangiography. J Gastroenterol36:271-2752001
14.
Terayama N, Matsui O, Kadoya M, et al. Peribiliary cysts in liver cirrhosis: US, CT, and MR findings. J Comput Assist Tomogr19:419-4231995
15.
Colina F, Castellano VM, Gonzalez-Pinto I, et al. Hilar biliary cysts in hepatic transplantation. Report of three symptomatic cases and occurrence in resected liver grafts. Transpl Int11:110-1161998