Treatments of choledochal cysts in adults: a study in 169 consecutive patients / 中华肝胆外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To characterize the spectrum of adult choledochal cyst and to determine suitable surgical procedures for this disorder.Methods The medical records of 169 patients who were treated for choledochal cyst from July 1977 to October 2008 in our Department were retrospectively reviewed.The cysts were classified using Todani's classification as type Ⅰ in 110 patients (65.1％),type Ⅱ in one patient (0.6％),and type Ⅳ in 56 patients (33.1％).The choledochal cysts in two patients could not be classified because of the lack of clinical data.163 patients received surgical treatment,which included cystectomy (n=119),cystenterosotmy (n=33),T-tube drainage following bile duct exploration (n=5),surgical exploration/biopsy (n =5),and endoscopic sphincterotomy (n =1).Results There was an increase in the number of patients in the 1980s which became stable at round 30 patients per every four years since the late 1990s.The proportion of patients presenting with a history of biliary surgery decreased and accounted for about 25％ of patients in the past decades.The rate of cyst malignancy dropped from 16.5％ in 1977=1995 to 9.7％ in 1996=2008.Of the 163 patients who received surgical treatment,long-term complications included anastomotic strictures and intrahepatic bile ductal stones presenting with repeated cholangitis.Conclusions The incidence of adult congenital choledochal cysts had become stable following years of rapid increase.The rate of cancer progression had gradually decreased.The use of different surgical treatments based on the condition of the proximal bile duct helped to prevent postoperative stenosis of biliary anastomosis.