Anatomical variation of pancreatobiliary ducts in biliary stone diseases.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography examinations were prospectively analyzed to determine whether anatomical variations of ductal systems have a role in the pathogenesis of cholecystolithiasis and choledocholithiasis. Included were 140 normal examinations (control group), 102 patients with cholecystolithiasis, and 68 patients with choledocholithiasis (primary stones in the common bile duct). Low entry of the cystic duct was observed frequently in patients with cholecystolithiasis (15.7% vs. 2.1% in control, p < 0.01). No preferential type of course of the cystic duct was observed in patients with cholecystolithiasis and choledocholithiasis. Separate openings of the bile and pancreatic ducts were significantly prevalent in patients with choledocholithiasis (53.5% vs. 30.6% in control, p < 0.01). Common channel was significantly short in patients with cholecystolithiasis. Incidence of juxtapapillary duodenal diverticula was significant in patients with choledocholithiasis. These observations suggest that some of the pancreatobiliary ductal anatomy may be closely implicated in the development of gallstone diseases.