Surgical management of a massive choledochal cyst

Abstract

Choledochal cysts (CC) are congenital bile duct anomalies, typically present in children. The size of CC vary, but they rarely exceed 9 cm. Surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment. This case report presents 18-year-old female with jaundice and abdominal pain. On imaging she was found to have a type I CC versus a type IVa CC. She was taken to the operating room where she was found to have a 20 cm type I CC. The patient experienced complete recovery after total resection of the extrahepatic cyst with reconstruction with a Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy. Preoperative diagnosis of the type of CCs can be challenging. Proper imaging preoperatively can aid in diagnosis of these cysts, but delineation of anatomy and type may not always be possible. If treated in a timely manner, it can help prevent both long- and short-term complications.