INTRAHEPATIC BILIARY CYSTADENOMA DEMONSTRATED BY INTRAOPERATIVE CHOLANGIOGRAPHY

Biliary cystadenomas are rare neoplasms usually found in the liver. Th ese neoplasms have a strong tendency to recur and undergo malignant tr ansformation, and so differentiating between cystadenomas and other cy stic lesions of the liver is very important. We describe herein the ch aracteristics of these neoplasms and report the first case of an intra hepatic biliary cystadenoma being demonstrated by intraoperative chola ngiography. In our case, intraoperative cholangiography was very usefu l in differentiating a cystadenoma or cystadenocarcinoma from other cy stic mass lesions of the liver. Not only did it reveal a communication between the intrahepatic bile duct and the cystadenoma, but it also a llowed obtain fluid for cytology.