HEPATIC PERIBILIARY CYSTS - MULTIPLE TINY CYSTS WITHIN THE LARGER PORTAL TRACT, HEPATIC HILUM, OR BOTH

PURPOSE: To describe characteristic imaging features of hepatic peribi liary cysts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four patients with hepatic cysts i n which the radiologic (n = 3) or histologic (n = 1) findings were con sistent with peribiliary cysts of the liver (multiple small cysts seen exclusively in the larger portal tract, hepatic hilum, or both at gro ss examination and dilatations of extramural peribiliary gland at hist ologic examination) underwent computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound (US). In three patients, CT was performed after drip infusion of chola ngiographic contrast material. RESULTS: Contrast material-enhanced CT clearly depicted many tiny cysts along the larger portal veins up to t he third- or fourth-order branch (n = 3). US depicted multiple cysts i n the echogenic portal tract definitely (n = 2) or equivocally (n = 2) . On cholangiographic contrast-enhanced CT scans, cystic areas were lo cated adjacent to or surrounding the bile ducts, and the possibility o f biliary dilatation, communication, or both was disproved. CONCLUSION : Hepatic peribiliary cysts can be diagnosed with US and enhanced CT e specially with CT performed after administration of cholangiographic c ontrast material.