Caroli's disease in infant. Review of literature and two case reports

Caroli's disease is characterized by congenital dilatation of intra-hepatic bile ducts. It is a very rare affection [only 205 cases have been reported up to 1989]. We report two new cases observed in two boys 8 and 9 years old: the first was operated with the diagnosis of hydatic cyst of the liver opened in the biliary ducts: the diagnosis was corrected by the operation and post operative. In the second case, the Caroli's disease had evoked by ultrasonography. Lesions are diffused in the two observations and treatment has been only palliative. A review of the literature about these two observations is proposed and the means of diagnosis and treatment are discussed