What does it mean if you have a choledochal cyst?

What does it mean if you have a choledochal cyst?

The term choledochal cyst can be broken down into the following: A choledochal cyst in a swelling / widening or dilatation of the bile ducts. The condition usually affects the part of the bile ducts outside the liver (the common bile duct and the hepatic ducts) but sometimes it also affects those inside the liver (the intrahepatic ducts).

Why do I have a cyst in my bile duct?

Choledochal cysts are distentions of the bile ducts. It is a congenital condition. The defect is attributable to an unknown cause, which leads to the malformation of the ducts during fetal development. Their classification primarily centers on whether they are a regional distention or a structure separated from the duct itself.

Which is better choledochal cyst removal or bile duct cancer?

While choledochal cyst removal will reduce the risk of bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma), your child will be at higher risk of developing cancer in the remaining bile ducts inside the liver compared to the general population.

Which is part of the liver does the cyst affect?

The condition usually affects the part of the bile ducts outside the liver (the common bile duct and the hepatic ducts) but sometimes it also affects those inside the liver (the intrahepatic ducts). *This website provides general information but does not replace medical advice.

Where does the bile come from in a choledochal cyst?

A choledochal cyst is a congenital anomaly of the duct (tube) that transports bile from the liver to the gall bladder and small intestine.

Can a cyst in the bile duct cause biliary disease?

Choledochal cysts are not a common condition and produce non-specific symptoms of liver and biliary disease in the early years of life. The bile ducts are narrow passages that carry bile from the liver to the lumen of the duodenum.

What are the symptoms of a choledochal cyst?

Patient Information. Choledochal cysts are parts of the bile duct that are distended, like a pouch. A person is born with this abnormality and the causes are unknown. Typical symptoms involve occasional pain and/or swelling in the abdomen, a yellow skin color ( jaundice ), peritonitis or cholangitis.

Why are choledochal cysts more common in girls than boys?

Choledochal cysts are rare: one in every 100,000 to 150,000 children in Western countries is born with choledochal cysts. Girls are four times more likely to be affected than boys. The condition is more common in East Asian countries, especially Japan, though researchers do not know why. Choledochal cysts are congenital.