Imaging of choledochocele in children (a case report and literature review)

A choledochocele is a cystic enlargement of the distal segment of the common bile duct protruding into the lumen of the duodenum. This is an extremely rare congenital abnormality. The article describes the case of a 5-year-old child with uncomplicated choledochocele. During the preoperative diagnosis, both ultrasound and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography failed to make a reliable differential diagnosis between type III bile duct cyst and duodenal duplication cyst. The child underwent a planned duodenotomy with cyst excision, and the postoperative period was successful. The article describes the ultrasound features  characteristic of this type of biliary tract malformation, provides a review of the literature describing the embryogenesis of the disease, and provides information on the comparative accuracy of ultrasound, radiologic, and endoscopic diagnostic modalities. 

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