A choledochal cyst is an abnormal dilation of the bile ducts, which can involve the common bile duct, the hepatic ducts, or both. This condition is usually congenital, meaning it develops before birth, and it is more common in females and in people of Asian descent. On prenatal or neonatal ultrasound, a choledochal cyst appears as a cystic structure in the porta hepatis, the area where the bile ducts and blood vessels enter the liver, separate from the gallbladder. Choledochal cysts are clinically significant because they can cause bile duct obstruction, cholangitis, and have an increased risk of developing cancer later in life, which is why surgical removal is usually recommended.
Sonography Term