Radiology, Vol 171, 57-61, Copyright © 1989 by Radiological Society of North America
Biliary cystadenoma and cystadenocarcinoma: CT and sonographic findings
BI Choi, JH Lim, MC Han, DH Lee, SH Kim, YI Kim and CW Kim
Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Korea.
Eight women (ages 18-65 years; mean, 47 years) with biliary cystadenoma (n
= 3) or cystadenocarcinoma (n = 5) were examined with computed tomography
and sonography. The appearance of the tumors varied from unilocular cystic
masses to multilocular cystic masses with multiple satellite tumors,
although the majority (n = 6) of tumors were single, multilocular, and
cystic. Cystic areas showed attenuation numbers under +30 HU. Papillary
excrescences, nodular thickening of internal septa, and mural nodules,
which showed contrast enhancement, were seen in one case of cystadenoma and
all five cases of cystadenocarcinoma. One cystadenoma and one
cystadenocarcinoma contained calcifications. Three cases showed connection
to the intrahepatic bile ducts. Biliary cystadenoma and cystadenocarcinoma
should be the primary diagnostic consideration when one detects in a
middle-aged woman a well- encapsulated, multilocular cystic mass connected
to the biliary system or prolapsing into the bile duct.
