A choledochal cyst is an uncommon inborn dilation of the hepatic or bile duct of the liver, the parcel which transports bile produced by the cells to the gallbladder and duodenum. Choledochal cysts are comparatively uncommon in the United States and new Western countries. There are five types of choledochal cysts. Type 1 Cysts is making upward about half of all choledochal cysts. This character is a cystic dilation of the extrahepatic bililary duct. Type 2 Cysts is an irregular pocket or sac opening from the duct. Type 3 involves a cyst that is located within the duodenal fence.

Type 4 Cysts refers to cystic dilations of both the intrahepatic and extrahepatic biliary tracts. Choledochal cysts happen in between 1 and 100,000 and 1 in 150,000 folk in Western countries but is often more popular in Japan. Choledochal cysts do often submit during childhood but they are more usually diagnosed in maturity. Choledochal cysts are more rife in females than males, with a female-to-male ratio in the scope of 3:1 to 4:1. Choledochal cysts have some clinical expression of the disease in childhood. Approximately 67% of pediatric patients with choledochal cysts have signs or symptoms related to the cyst.

The classical symptoms of abdominal mass, pain and jaundice is seldom seen during childhood. Some children may not indicate symptoms for years. In some patients, the cyst can be felt by the physician examining the stomach. The handling of selection for choledochal cysts is comprehensive excision. Appropriate antibiotic therapy and positive maintenance should be given to patients presenting with cholangitis. Laparoscopic techniques have been successfully applied to the administration of choledochal cysts. Without operation, there is a current danger of biliary interference and incidental cholangitis, jaundice, and cirrhosis.

Another long-term worry is for cancerous degeneration. Choledochal cysts are incendiary in nature, which makes them at danger for cancer if left raw. Partial cyst resection and domestic drainage is less acceptable because of infrequent pancreatitis, cholangitis, and cholangiocarcinoma. Patients who submit with cholangitis should be treated with broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy directed against popular biliary pathogens, e. g. E. coli and Klebsiella.