Benign tumors of the gallbladder Although gallbladder cancer is a rare and aggressive malignancy that generally carries a dismal prognosis, there are a number of benign conditions of the gallbladder that can radiographically mimic malignancy and deserve consideration in a…
Although uncommon, benign tumors and pseudotumors may arise from the intrahepatic and extrahepatic biliary ducts and gallbladder. These lesions may originate from both the epithelial and nonepithelial structures that comprise the biliary ducts and gallbladder ( Box 48.1 ). Epithelial…
The biliary tract is lined by simple columnar epithelial cells of foregut origin ( Fig. 47.1 ). The vast majority of biliary neoplasms arise from this cell type and therefore show major similarities to other foregut tumors, particularly those of…
First reported by Vater and Ezler in 1723, bile duct cysts represent a rare pathology. They exist most commonly as a pediatric surgical problem. The majority of bile duct cysts are diagnosed in infants and children within the first decade…
Parasitic infections of the biliary tract are a common cause of biliary obstruction in tropical developing countries and less frequently, in developed countries. These infections are important because they can lead to serious complications such as cholelithiasis (see Chapters 33…
Recurrent pyogenic cholangitis (RPC) is a clinical condition caused by repeated episodes of cholangitis, with biliary sepsis secondary to the accumulation of pigmented stones inside the biliary system (see Chapters 39 and 43 ), and there may be associated stricture…
Overview Cholangitis, also called acute cholangitis or ascending cholangitis, occurs when obstructed biliary flow leads to cholestasis and infection of the biliary tree. Cholangitis is commonly caused by choledocholithiasis and a variety of pathologies that obstruct the biliary tree. The…
Overview In this chapter we cover biliary fistulae and strictures from benign etiologies. There is significant overlap in conditions that lead to benign biliary fistulae and strictures, thus these two topics are combined in one chapter. By definition, a biliary…
Overview Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic, idiopathic cholangiopathy characterized histologically by peribiliary inflammation and fibrosis. PSC can progress to cirrhosis and is a risk factor for hepatobiliary and colonic carcinogenesis. The median liver transplant (LT) free survival time…
Introduction Extrahepatic biliary atresia or biliary atresia (BA) is an obstructive fibroinflammatory disease that presents in infancy. First described in a case series of 49 patients by John Thompson in 1892, this disease is characterized by a destructive inflammatory cholangiopathy…