ABSTRACT
Background: Anatomic variations of cystic ducts are common and continuously encountered during Surgical andradiological interventions. Failure to identify these clinically important variations may result in complicationsduring surgical or endoscopic procedures.Patients and methods: This is an observational descriptive cross-sectional study. 65 cadavers in the dissectingrooms of the medical colleges, in which the length and mode of insertion of cystic duct (CD) into common bileduct (CBD) were observed.Results: The mean length of the CD in the cadavers examined was (2.06 ± 1.03) with a minimum length of d” 0.5 cmand a maximum of 5 cm. Regarding the mode of insertion of CD into the CBD; 53.8% were found to have a lowjunction between the CD and common hepatic duct (CHD) which is considered the normal insertion. 46.2% foundto be abnormal variations of insertion; short CD (d”0.5 cm) observed in 10.8%; whereas in 13.8% of cadavers wefound that the CD is adherent to the CHD and runs in parallel to it. In 7.8% there was a high junction between theCD and CBD and in 9.2% we found that CD courses anterior or posterior to CBD and joins it medially.Conclusion: CD variations are not uncommon and it is important to identify these anatomical variations. Adetailed knowledge of the extra hepatic biliary tract, as well as of its variations, is important for the diagnosticand therapeutic success in many clinical situations since they allow the surgeon prompt identification ofcertain pathologies, making surgical procedures more accurate and affective.