Antenatally detected cystic biliary atresia: differential diagnoses of a double bubble.

The 'double bubble' sign on antenatal ultrasound is often associated with duodenal atresia although there are numerous causes. We present a case of cystic biliary atresia presenting with a "double bubble" at 36-weeks gestation. Postnatal ultrasound and MRCP confirmed a cystic lesion at the porta hepatis, mandating early laparotomy and a successful Kasai portoenterostomy. Although diagnosis of such lesions may be imprecise antenatally, awareness and detection does allow early postnatal investigation and management, which is vital to optimise outcome. This case highlights the need to be mindful of other important anomalies that can give this appearance and that may require early intervention.

Chronically symptomatic patients with undetectable gall bladder on ultrasonography could benefit from early cholecystectomy.

90 percent of symptomatic patients undergoing cholecystectomy have cholelithiasis with 10% categorized as asymptomatic cholecystitis. In both instances, the gallbladder is evident on ultrasonography. In children with symptomatic biliary dyspepsia, the decision to proceed to cholecystectomy is made difficult if choleliths are not seen on ultrasonography. This decision is made even more difficult if the gallbladder itself is not seen on repeated imaging. In a cohort of 54 cholecystectomies, 3 cases, with recurrent right upper quadrant pain and undetectable gallbladders on repeat ultrasonography, were identified. After prolonged observation all underwent successful cholecystectomy. Histology demonstrated a markedly fibrotic and thickened gallbladder in all. Given this experience, we suggest that nonvisibility of the gallbladder, in fact, maybe be a feature of a chronic acalculous cholecystitis. We advise consideration of cholecystectomy for chronic biliary dyspepsia where repeat ultrasonography fails to demonstrate a gallbladder.