Biliary System Flashcards
Which of the following is most likely to deem a cholangiocarcinoma irresectible?
A. Left hepatic artery invasion
B. PV branch to one lobe and hepatic artery to other lobe invaded
C. Right portal vein invasion
D. Size > 2cm
E. Biliary duct dilatation
B. PV branch to one lobe and hepatic artery to other lobe invaded
Irresectable tumours include those with main PV or main HA invasion, those with both right and left PV or both right and left HA involvement, or involvement of a PV branch to one lobe and a HA branch to other lobe
Which of the following is not a feature of Mirrizzi sign?
A. Jaundice
B. Dilated Common Bile Duct (CBD) below level of impactedStone
C. Gall stone impacted in gall bladder neck
D. Dilatation of bile ducts above level of cystic duct
E. Smooth curved segmental stenosis of Common Hepatic Duct (CHD)
B. Dilated Common Bile Duct (CBD) below level of impactedStone
In Mirrizzi’s sign, the CBD below the level of the impacted gallstone is not dilated.
Which of the following is a cause of non-visualisation of the gall bladder with trimethylbromo-im–indol acetic acid (TBIDA) and no bowel activity?
A. Acute cholecystitis
B. IV feeding
C. Biliary pancreatitis
D. Opiate usage
E. Severe diffuse hepatocellular disease
D. Opiate usage
Opiates, severe hepatitis and CBD obstruction are causes of non-visualisation and no bowel activity. Other cause bowel activity.
- A 64-year-old woman presents with jaundice. An abdominal ultrasound scan demonstrates the intrahepatic biliary ducts to be of similar calibre to the adjacent portal veins. The extrahepatic common bile duct measures 5 mm in diameter. No gallstones are seen. What is the most appropriate further imaging investigation?
A. CT of the abdomen
B. endoscopic ultrasound scan
C. MRCP
D. ERCP
E. no imaging indicated as normal findings
C. MRCP
Intrahepatic bile ducts are considered dilated when they exceed 40% of the diameter ofthe adjacent portal veins.
The upper limit of normal for the extrahepatic common bile duct is 5mm in adults (increasing after age 60 by approximately1mm /decade).
Appearances here are indicative of biliary obstruction at the level of the hilum, and MRCP is the investigation of choice after ultrasound scan in these circumstances.
MRCP reliably demonstrates the extent of ductal involvement, allowing planning of surgery or treatment; with malignant causes, it may provide further staging information.
CT is the investigation of choice when ultrasound scan indicates obstruction below the hilum.
If ultrasound scan demonstrates ductal stones, ERCP is the investigation of choice for confirmation and therapeutic intervention. Endoscopic ultrasound scan is particularly useful for detecting small ductal stones and periampullary tumours.
Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography is reserved for cases when ERCP isnot possible.
- A 40-year-old woman undergoes abdominal ultrasound scan, which demonstrates three small, rounded, echogenic structures in relation to the anterior wall of the gallbladder. There is no posterior acoustic shadowing, and appearances remain constant with variation in patient position. The remainder of the gallbladder and biliary tree appear unremarkable. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A. gallstones
B. cholesterol polyps
C. adenomyomatosis
D. gallbladder carcinoma
E. strawberry gallbladder
B. cholesterol polyps
Cholesterolosis is a form of hyperplastic cholecystosis in which triglycerides, cholesterolprecursors and cholesterol esters accumulate within the lamina propria of the gallbladder wall.
Most cases are of the planar type, termed ‘strawberry gallbladder’ afterthe resemblance of the gallbladder mucosa to the surface of a strawberry, and produceno detectable ultrasound changes.
In a minority of cases, cholesterol polyps are formed, which are the commonest type of gallbladder polyp.
They are generally small, multiple echogenic lesions adjacent to the gallbladder wall.
Non-mobility and a lack of posterior acoustic shadowing helps to distinguish polyps from gallstones. Small size and multiplicity distinguish them from gallbladder malignancy, though, rarely, metastatic disease may produce multiple polypoid lesions, particularly malignant melanoma.
Adenomyomatosis, the other form of hyperplastic cholecystosis, results in mucosal hyperplasia and thickening of the muscular layer of the gallbladder. It is characterized bybright reflections and comet-tail artefacts from the gallbladder wall on ultrasound scan
- A 36-year-old man with ulcerative colitis develops progressive jaundice and pruritis. CT of the abdomen demonstrates multiple areas of dilatation and stenosis of tortuous intrahepatic bile ducts, with wall thickening and contrast enhancement of the extrahepatic bile ducts. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A. primary sclerosing cholangitis
B. choledocholithiasis
C. primary biliary cirrhosis
D. ascending cholangitis
E. chronic pancreatitis
A. primary sclerosing cholangitis
Primary sclerosing cholangitis is an idiopathic, progressive, fibrosing, inflammatory disorder of the biliary tree, causing multifocal strictures, cholestasis and biliary cirrhosis.
There is an association with inflammatory bowel disease and autoimmune conditions.
In most cases, both intra- and extrahepatic ducts are involved, and classic appearances oncholangiography are of a ‘string-of-beads’ appearance with alternating segments of dilatation and stenosis.
Biliary cirrhosis develops in up to 49% of cases, and there is an increased risk of cholangiocarcinoma.
In primary biliary cirrhosis, disease is limited tothe intrahepatic bile ducts.
In ascending cholangitis, there may be biliary dilatation and pneumobilia, but multifocal strictures are not a feature.
CT features of choledocholithiasis include biliary dilatation and visualization of a stone in the bile duct, but again strictures are not a feature.
Chronic pancreatitis may result in a smooth inflammatory stricture of the intrapancreatic portion of the common bile duct.
- In a 67-year-old female patient with jaundice and gallbladder wall thickening on ultrasound scan, which feature on CT favours a diagnosis of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis rather than gallbladder carcinoma?
A. pericholecystic fat infiltration
B. intramural hypoattenuating nodules throughout the gallbladder
C. biliary obstruction
D. hepatic extension
E. regional lymphadenopathy
B. intramural hypoattenuating nodules throughout the gallbladder
Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) is an uncommon inflammatory disease of thegallbladder, which is characterized by multiple intramural nodules and proliferative fibrosis. It is thought to result from rupture and extravasation of bile and mucus following the occlusion of Rokitansky–Aschoff sinuses. There is considerable overlap between the clinical and radiological features of XGC and gallbladder carcinoma. Pericholecystic infiltration, biliary obstruction, regional lymphadenopathy and hepatic involvement may be seen in both conditions, and the difference in incidence between the two conditions is not statistically significant. Only the presence of multiple intramural hypoattenuating nodules (representing xanthogranulomas) occupying a large area of the thickened gallbladder wall allows a diagnosis of XGC to be made with anydegree of certainty. Similar hypoattenuating intramural nodules (representing Hge and necrosis) may be seen less commonly in gallbladder carcinoma, butthese tend to occupy a much smaller proportion of the thickened gallbladder wall.
- During MRCP, which substance may be administered to improve visualization of the pancreatic ducts?
A. glucagon
B. secretin
C. cholecystokinin
D. gastrin
E. Buscopan
B. secretin
Secretin is a hormone normally secreted by the duodenal mucosa in response to acid within the lumen. It has many physiological effects on the gastrointestinal tract, including stimulation of pancreatic secretions and a transient increase in tone of the sphincter of Oddi. When given intravenously immediately prior to imaging, it results in distension of the pancreatic ductal system and can significantly improve visualization of the pancreatic main and branch ducts on MRCP, as well as provide information about the secretory reserve capacity of the pancreas. Effects on the biliary tree are less pronounced and not usually appreciable on imaging. Side effects include abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhoea.
Glucagon increases bile flow and has been suggested to improve visualization of the biliary tree at MRCP.
Cholecystokinin stimulates gallbladder contraction, and is sometimes used in hepatobiliary scintigraphy.
Buscopan is widely used in imaging for its inhibition of intestinal motility.
- For relief of malignant biliary obstruction by percutaneous stenting, which factor is an advantage of using a metallic rather than a plastic stent?
A. higher long-term patency rates
B. lower cost
C. easily removed if infection develops
D. does not shorten following deployment
E. higher surface area
A. higher long-term patency rates
Percutaneous or endoscopic biliary stenting is usually performed to relieve jaundice inpatients with malignant biliary obstruction.
Metallic or plastic stents may be used. Metallic stents have a larger internal diameter and have higher long-term patency ratesthan plastic stents,
as well as a low surface area that reduces bacterial colonization and subsequent fibrous deposition.
However, metallic stents become incorporated into thebile duct mucosa and are not easily removed, which may present particular problems ifthe stent becomes infected.
They are also prone to shortening following deployment, and a long-segment obstruction may therefore require multiple stents.
In addition, thecost of metallic stents is approximately 10 times that of plastic stents.
- A 22-year-old woman with known medullary sponge kidney presents with recurrent upper abdominal pain and jaundice. Cholangiography demonstrates segmental saccular dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts and ectasia of the extrahepatic ducts. What is diagnosis?
A. choledochocele
B. choledochal cyst
C. primary sclerosing cholangitis
D. Caroli’s disease
E. polycystic liver disease
D. Caroli’s disease
Caroli’s disease is a rare congenital disorder characterized by multifocal segmental saccular dilatation of intrahepatic bile ducts. It presents in childhood and earlyadulthood with upper abdominal pain, fever and transient jaundice.
Up to 80% of patients have associated medullary sponge kidney.
Typical CT findings are of multiplecystic structures with a central enhancing ‘dot’, representing portal vein radicles surrounded by dilated ducts.
Cholangiography is diagnostic and demonstrates saccular dilatation of intrahepatic ducts of up to 5cm in diameter, with frequent associated ectasia of extrahepatic ducts.
Choledochal cysts primarily cause cystic dilatation of CBD, but there may be associated IHBD. A
choledochocele is a cystic dilatation of intraduodenal portion of CBD.
Primary sclerosing cholangitis classically causes multifocal strictures of I&EHBD, alternating with segments of dilatation.
In polycystic liver disease, there is no communication of cysts with biliary tree.
A 40-year-old man is found to have abnormal liver function whilst undergoing routine blood tests prior to abdominal surgery. Subsequent imaging demonstrates a relatively normal liver parenchyma but there is irregularity of the bile ducts with beading and short segment strictures. What is the most likely diagnosis?
(a) Autoimmune liver disease
(b) Viral hepatitis
(c) Primary biliary cirrhosis
(d) Cholangiocarcinoma
(e) Primary sclerosing cholangitis
(e) Primary sclerosing cholangitis
Primary sclerosing cholangitis is a biliary condition of unknown etiology that is more common in men (2:1) and often presents under the age of 45 years. It is associated with ulcerative colitis, sicca complex and retroperitoneal fibrosis and patients are at increased risk of developing cholangiocarcinoma.
A 47-year-old lady attends for an US of her biliary system. Three comet-tail artefacts are seen arising from the anterior wall, which is slightly thickened. The remainder of the examination was unremarkable. What is the most likely cause?
(a) Adenomyomatosis
(b) Cholesterolosis
(c) Gall stones
(d) Chronic cholecystitis
(e) Porcelain gallbladder
(a) Adenomyomatosis
Adenomyomatosis is caused by mucosal hyperplasia with herniations of mucosa in to the thickened muscular layer (Rokitansky-Asqhinoffsinuses). Cholesterol crystals deposited in these sinuses give rise to the hyperechoic comet-tail artefacts from the anterior wall, clearly visible against the hypoechoic bile.
@# 30 A patient a pyrexia of unknown origin is referred for a radio-labelled white cell scan with Tc-99m HMPAO. At which time points should imaging of the abdomen be performed?
(a) 1 and 3 hours
(b) 1, 3 and 6 hours
(c) 1 and 6 hours
(d) 1, 3 and 24 hours
(e) 1, 6 and 24 hours
(a) 1 and 3 hours
99mTC-HAMPAO begins to break down by 4 hours as it is not as stable as 111In; thereafter, breakdown products may be seen within the bile as and intestines.
@# 31 A patient is referred for the investigation of right upper quadrant pain. US has equivocal findings and a HIDA examination is requested. At 35 minutes, there is little uptake within the liver, but renal excretion is noted. What is the most likely cause for these findings?
(a) Poor liver function
(b) Acute cholecystitis
(c) Poor renal function
(d) Sphincter Of Oddi dysfunction
(e) Chronic cholecystitis
(a) Poor liver function
Liver uptake should be seen within 10 minutes. Thereafter, there is filling of the gallbladder and subsequent excretion to the bowel. Cholecystitis impairs uptake to the GB.
46 A patient with a biopsy proven cholangiocarcinoma undergoes imaging which demonstrates that the tumour is confined to the bile duct. How would you classify this?
(a) Bismuth I
(b) Bismuth II
(c) Bismuth III
(d) Bismuth IV
(e) Bismuth V
(a) Bismuth I
A type II stricture extends in to the 1st order ducts. A type III stricture involves 2nd order ducts in either the right (IIIA) or left (IIIB) side, whilst type IV involve 2nd order ducts bilaterally. There is no type V. This classification is used to plan surgery.
12 Which of the following is not considered to be a risk factor for the development of cholangiocarcinoma?
(a) Tobacco smoking
(b) Heavy alcohol consumption
(c) Hepatitis C virus
(d) Polyvinyl chloride exposure
(e) Caroli disease
(a) Tobacco smoking
Tobacco smoking is not associated with cholangiocarcinoma, but there are a large number of other associations, including viral agents (HIV, HBV, EBV), liver flukes, heptolithiasis, primary sclerosing cholangitis and biliary anomalies.
32 A 47-year-old lady with right upper quadrant pain undergoes an US. This demonstrates gallbladder calculi and focal thickening of the wall at the fund us of the gallbladder. The patient undergoes an MRCP to further evaluate this which shows multiple foci of high signal within the wall of the GB on the T2 weighted images in addition to the calculi. What is the most likely diagnosis?
(a) Acute cholecystitis
(b) Chronic cholecystitis
(c) Gallbladder carcinoma
(d) Adenomyomatosis
(e) Xanthogranulomatouscholecystitis
(d) Adenomyomatosis
Adenomyomatosis of the gall bladder is characterised by deep, branching invaginations into the thickened GB wall. Seen in approximately 8% GB specimens, and associated with gallstones (90% cases), it is more common in women and often presents with RUQ pain. There are both diffuse and focal forms. The ‘string of beads’ sign in the GB wall is the hallmark of the disease on MRI and is said to be highly specific in differentiating it from carcinoma.
38 A 35-year-old man undergoes abdominal US. The report reads: ‘ ‘The liver has a coarse echotexture and there appear to be multiple areas of saccular dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts, but no strictures. The CBD is normal. The spleen measures 16 cm. Note is also made of bilateral renal cysts.” What is the most likely diagnosis?
(a) Primary sclerosing cholangitis
(b) Primary biliary cirrhosis
(c) AIDS cholangiopathy
(d) Caroli’s disease
(e) Polycystic liver disease
(d) Caroli’s disease
These are the typical findings at US or MRI. Complications include biliary stasis, cholangitis and abscesses. The coarse echotexture would be in keeping with hepatic fibrosis (not a feature of polycystic disease), Whilst PSC and AIDS cholangiopathy have thickening of the bile ducts with strictures. Caroli’s disease is associated with renal cysts and medullary sponge kidney.
54 A 56-year-old lady with jaundice undergoes an MRCP. This demonstrates a gallstone impacted in the neck of the gallbladder. The gallbladder wall is thickened and there is intrahepatic duct dilatation due to the gall bladder com pressing the common bile duct. What is the diagnosis?
(a) Caroli’s disease
(b) Klatskin syndrome
(c) Choledocholithiasis
(d) Mirizzi syndrome
(e) Cholangitis
(d) Mirizzi syndrome
This is Mirizzi syndrome. The inflamed gallbladder compresses the CBD to result in obstructive jaundice. Patients often have a low insertion of the cystic duct in the common bile duct.
61 A 46-year-old woman is diagnosed with HIV cholangiopathy. What is the most likely causative organism?
(a) Cryptosporidium
(b) Clonorchis
(c) Ascaris
(d) E. coli
(e) Fasciolahepatis
(a) Cryptosporidium
HIV (or AIDS) cholangiopathy is due to opportunistic infection, most commonly with Cryptospordium, in patients with established HIV infection. Features include duct thickening, strictures and duct dilatation.
74 An otherwise well 35-year-old man undergoes an US of the liver which shows a heterogeneous echotexture. Subsequent CT and MRI images demonstrate that the liver is normal in size and has a smooth contour, but that there are innumerable tiny lesions throughout measuring less than 5 mm in diameter. These are predominantly cystic in nature, although a small solid component is present, and return a high signal T2-weighted images. What is the most likely diagnosis?
(a) Polycystic liver disease
(b) Metastases
(c) Caroli disease
(d) Biliary hamartomas
(e) Primary sclerosing cholangitis
(d) Biliary hamartomas
These are the typical appearances of biliary hamartomas (von Meyenberg complexes), a benign abnormality of the ductal plate which may be misinterpreted as metastases.
- A 41 year old woman has an outpatient ultrasound scan for intermittent right upper quadrant pain. Five 5 mm gallstones and sludge are present. In addition, there is wall thickening of the gallbladder fundus with multiple foci of increased echogenicity within the wall, each associated with bright artefacts deep to them. Which one of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
a. Porcelain gallbladder
b. Emphysematous cholecystitis
c. Acute cholecystitis
d. Adenomyomatosis of the gallbladder
e. Gallbladder carcinoma
- d. Adenomyomatosis of the gallbladder
The correct diagnosis is adenomyomatosis. This is an uncommon condition, more common in females, and is associated with gallstones in the majority of cases. It is characterised by generalised or focal mural thickening with intramural diverticula (Rokitansky–Aschoff sinuses). The ultrasound artefact from cholesterol crystals in the sinuses produces bright ‘comet-tail’ reverberation artefacts.
- A 32 year old man has an ultrasound scan for obstructive jaundice. Areas of intrahepatic duct dilatation are seen, with increased echogenicity of the portal triads. ERCP reveals alternating segments of dilatation and stenosis of both the intra- and extrahepatic ducts. Which one of the following diagnoses is most likely?
a. Primary sclerosing cholangitis
b. Primary biliary sclerosis
c. Ascending cholangitis
d. Choledochal cyst
e. Congenital hepatic fibrosis
- a. Primary sclerosing cholangitis
These ultrasound and ERCP features are typical of primary sclerosing cholangitis, which is an idiopathic condition characterised by progressive fibrosis of the biliary tree. It primarily affects young men with inflammatory bowel disease (more common in ulcerative colitis than Crohn’s) although pancreatitis, liver cirrhosis and chronic active hepatitis are other associated conditions. Primary biliary cirrhosis may also cause scattered areas of focal intrahepatic duct dilatation, but this condition is much more common in females and the extrahepatic ducts are not involved.
- A neonate is investigated for obstructive jaundice and as part of the investigation has a hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid (HIDA) nuclear medicine scan. This shows a photopaenic area within the liver and lack of visualisation of the small bowel. Which one of the following conditions would be most consistent with these findings?
a. Enteric duplication cyst
b. Biliary duct atresia
c. Choledochal cyst
d. Pancreatic pseudocyst
e. Hepatic cyst
- c. Choledochal cyst
The only one of the listed diagnoses that would have both these features on HIDA scan is a choledochal cyst. This is a congenital condition characterised by dilatation of the common bile duct and common hepatic duct. Patients typically present in childhood with right upper quadrant pain, a mass and/or obstructive jaundice. Although the diagnosis is usually made with MRCP, HIDA scan can show typical features that include a photopaenic area in the liver representing the dilated CBD/CHD. Although a hepatic cyst would also show a photopaenic area within the liver, small bowel visualisation would be expected. Congenital biliary atresia would cause lack of small bowel visualisation, but the whole liver would take up HIDA and photopaenia would not be present.,