Biliary cystadenoma and cystadenocarcinoma of the liver: 10 cases of a single center experience.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Biliary cystadenoma and cystadenocarcinoma constitute less than 5% of intrahepatic cysts originating from the bile duct. The aims of this study were to characterize the clinical and pathologic aspects of these lesions, and also to discuss the treatment and prognosis of them.

METHODOLOGY

We reviewed the clinical records of six patients with intrahepatic biliary cystadenoma and four patients with cystadenocarcinoma who had undergone operation from January, 1990 to January, 2006 at Hanyang University Medical Center.

RESULTS

Biliary cystadenoma mainly affected women compared to biliary cystadenocarcinoma. Both tumor have nonspecific symptom and were usually diagnosed by computed tomography and ultrasonography. These tumors were usually large, multilocular, and cystic in appearance. The pathologic findings revealed multiple cystic masses lined with cuboidal to columnar epithelium. The nature of cystic fluid was mostly mucous type. Of 10 patients in whom the lesions were completely excised, 8 patients are alive.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical resection of the tumor, including a margin of surrounding normal liver parenchyma, was the only curative method. Any therapy short of complete excision leads to local recurrence and risk of malignant transformation. Complete resection of a biliary cystadenoma and radical resection of a biliary cystadenocarcinoma seems to offer a chance for long-term survival.