A 60-year-old woman who had undergone cholecystectomy, choledocholithotomy
and choledochoduodenostomy 21 years previously for cholecystolithiasis and
choledocholithiasis, presented with nausea and vomiting. With a preoperativ
e diagnosis of recurrent common bile duct stones, the extrahepatic bile duc
t was excised and choledochojejunostomy was performed. Histologic examinati
on of the resected specimen disclosed chronic cholangitis, papillary epithe
lial hyperplasia, and mild dysplasia. Choledochoduodenostomy predisposes to
reflux of duodenal contents, resulting in chronic-mechanical and chemical
irritation likely to induce histopathologic alterations in the bile duct mu
cosa. Since bile duct dysplasia induced by chronic inflammation maybe a pre
cursor of cancer, indication for choledochoduodenostomy should be specific
and limited, and careful long-term follow-up is mandatory.