Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
A Choledochal cyst is a rare biliary disease mostly presenting during childhood. Adult presentation is rare and associated diseases and complications are common.
OBJECTIVE:
This study aims to review the management of patients who presented to our hospital with choledochal cysts, focusing on their presentation, preoperative investigations, treatment given and postoperative course.
METHODS:
A prospective and retrospective review of all our choledochal cysts patients from April 2000 to November 2010 was performed
RESULTS:
There were twenty three patients, sixteen females and seven males the average age was 25.82 (range 4-70) years. The commonest presenting complaints were abdominal pain or jaundice. There were eighteen Types I (78.2 %), two of the adult patients had concomitant cholangiocarcinoma (8.6 %), and four patients had cholangitis (two of them had associated cystolithiasis). Fourteen patients treated by total cyst excision with hepaticojejunostomy,
CONCLUSION:
Adult patients with choledochal cysts have associated biliary problems. In view of the high risk of cholangiocarcinoma, early resection and not internal drainage is the appropriate treatment.