Surgical strategy of biliary papillomatosis in Western countries. J Hepatobiliary Pancreat Sci. 2010;17:241-245. [PMID: 19649560 DOI: 10.1007/s00534-009-0151-1]

[Prophylactic surgery for hepatic and biliary tumors]

Benign tumors of the liver and biliary tract are rare entities, and some of them require surgical management to prevent their malignant transformation. Tumors from the biliary tract with malignant potential are treated either by hepatic resection, for mucinous cystic neoplasm and ciliated hepatic foregut cysts, or by biliary resections, for biliary papillary neoplasm and type I and IV choledochal cysts. The pathologies requiring prophylactic cholecystectomy are polyps larger than 10 mm, porcelain gallbladder and pancreaticobiliary maljunction. Finally, hepatocellular adenoma over 5cm, occurring in male patients, or exon 3 mutated beta-catenin, should lead to prophylactic resection by hepatic segmentectomy. This article describes these different pathologies and their management.

Intraductal papillary neoplasms of the bile ducts-what can be seen with ultrasound?

Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile ducts is a rare tumor. Characteristic features include bile duct dilatation, cystic lesions with communication to the bile ducts, and intraluminal solid nodules arising from the bile duct wall. As in pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasia, intestinal, pancreaticobiliary, gastric, and oncocytic types are described. Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile ducts has a high potential for malignancy, and patients should be surgically resected when possible. In this review, the complex imaging diagnosis is presented. The main focus is on contrast-enhanced ultrasound, an established method for many other indications whose potential on the biliary system should be better exploited. In the present article, typical contrast-enhanced ultrasound findings in intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile ducts are demonstrated.

Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct: The new frontier of biliary pathology

Intraductal papillary neoplasms of the bile duct (IPNBs) represent a rare variant of biliary tumors characterized by a papillary growth within the bile duct lumen. Since their first description in 2001, several classifications have been proposed, mainly based on histopathological, radiological and clinical features, although no specific guidelines addressing their management have been developed. Bile duct neoplasms generally develop through a multistep process, involving different precursor pathways, ranging from the initial lesion, detectable only microscopically, i.e. biliary intraepithelial neoplasia, to the distinctive grades of IPNB until the final stage represented by invasive cholangiocarcinoma. Complex and advanced investigations, mainly relying on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cholangioscopy, are required to reach a correct diagnosis and to define an adequate bile duct mapping, which supports proper treatment. The recently introduced subclassifications of types 1 and 2 highlight the histopathological and clinical aspects of IPNB, as well as their natural evolution with a particular focus on prognosis and survival. Aggressive surgical resection, including hepatectomy, pancreaticoduodenectomy or both, represents the treatment of choice, yielding optimal results in terms of survival, although several endoscopic approaches have been described. IPNBs are newly recognized preinvasive neoplasms of the bile duct with high malignant potential. The novel subclassification of types 1 and 2 defines the histological and clinical aspects, prognosis and survival. Diagnosis is mainly based on MRI and cholangioscopy. Surgical resection represents the mainstay of treatment, although endoscopic resection is currently applied to nonsurgically fit patients. New frontiers in genetic research have identified the processes underlying the carcinogenesis of IPNB, to identify targeted therapies.

Biliary papillomatosis

Biliary papillomatosis (BP) is a rare disorder of the biliary tract characterized by the presence of multiple papillary adenomas spread along the biliary tree. Although benign, it carries a significant risk of malignant transformation. Due to low sensitivity and specificity of conventional radiologic modalities, the diagnosis as well as estimation of disease extent is difficult. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP) are superior although direct peroral cholangioscopy (POC) is currently the most accurate diagnostic method. Mainly because it provides more detailed information and makes targeted histological diagnosis possible. The treatment of biliary papillomatosis consists of surgical resection, liver transplantation (LT) or a combination of both. Unfortunately, the recurrence rate after radical surgery without LT remains high due to the diffuse distribution of the disease.

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the intrahepatic bile duct: a review of literature and a rare case report

Background

Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct is a rare variant of bile duct tumors, which is characterized by papillary or villous growth inside the bile duct. Having papillary and mucinous features such as those found in pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) is extremely rare. We report a rare case of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the intrahepatic bile duct.

Case report

A 65-year-old male Caucasian with multiple comorbidities presented to the emergency room with moderate constant pain at the right upper quadrant (RUQ) abdomen for the last several hours. On physical examination, he was found to have normal vital signs, with icteric sclera and pain on deep palpation at the RUQ region. His laboratory results were significant for jaundice, elevated liver function tests and creatinine, hyperglycemia, and leukocytosis. Multiple imaging studies revealed a 5 cm heterogeneous mass in the left hepatic lobe that demonstrated areas of internal enhancement, mild gall bladder wall edema, dilated gall bladder with mild sludge, and 9 mm common bile duct (CBD) dilatation without evidence of choledocholithiasis. He underwent a CT-guided biopsy of this mass, which revealed intrahepatic papillary mucinous neoplasm. This case was discussed at the hepatobiliary multidisciplinary conference, and the patient underwent an uneventful robotic left partial liver resection, cholecystectomy, and lymphadenectomy.

Conclusion

IPMN of the biliary tract may represent a carcinogenesis pathway different from that of CBD carcinoma arising from flat dysplasia. Complete surgical resection should be performed whenever possible because of its significant risk of harboring invasive carcinoma.

Intraductal papillary neoplasms of the bile duct: a European retrospective multicenter observational study (EUR-IPNB study)

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB) is a rare disease in Western countries. The main aim of this study was to characterize current surgical strategies and outcomes in the mainly European participating centers.

METHODS

A multi-institutional retrospective series of patients with a diagnosis of IPNB undergoing surgery between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2020 was gathered under the auspices of the European-African Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association. The textbook outcome (TO) was defined as a non-prolonged length of hospital stay plus the absence of any Clavien-Dindo grade at least III complications, readmission, or mortality within 90 postoperative days.

RESULTS

A total of 28 centers contributed 85 patients who underwent surgery for IPNB. The median age was 66 years (55-72), 49.4% were women, and 87.1% were Caucasian. Open surgery was performed in 72 patients (84.7%) and laparoscopic in 13 (15.3%). TO was achieved in 54.1% of patients, reaching 63.8% after liver resection and 32.0% after pancreas resection. Median overall survival was 5.72 years, with 5-year overall survival of 63% (95% CI: 50-82). Overall survival was better in patients with Charlson comorbidity score 4 or less versus more than 4 ( P =0.016), intrahepatic versus extrahepatic tumor ( P =0.027), single versus multiple tumors ( P =0.007), those who underwent hepatic versus pancreatic resection ( P =0.017), or achieved versus failed TO ( P =0.029). Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that not achieving TO (HR: 4.20; 95% CI: 1.11-15.94; P =0.03) was an independent prognostic factor of poor overall survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients undergoing liver resection for IPNB were more likely to achieve a TO outcome than those requiring a pancreatic resection. Comorbidity, tumor location, and tumor multiplicity influenced overall survival. TO was an independent prognostic factor of overall survival.

Inhibition of FGF10-ERK signal activation suppresses intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct and its associated carcinomas

Evidence regarding intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB) as a type of precancerous lesion of cholangiocarcinoma is limited. Moreover, a reproducible in vivo model is lacking, and IPNB pathogenesis remains unclear. Here, we use a doxycycline-inducible tetracycline (Tet)-on mice model to control fibroblast growth factor 10 (FGF10) expression, which regulates branching and tubule formation. FGF10-induced IPNB mimics the multifocal and divergent human IPNB phenotypes via the FGF10-FGF receptor 2 (FGFR2)-RAS-extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway. A paracrine/autocrine growth factor is sufficient to initiate and maintain IPNB originating from the peribiliary glands, including biliary stem/progenitor cells. With Kras^G12D, p53, or p16 mutations or both, Fgf10-induced IPNB shows stepwise carcinogenesis, causing associated invasive carcinoma. Fgf10-induced papillary changes and progression are suppressed by the inhibition of the FGF10-FGFR2-RAS-ERK signaling pathway, demonstrating that the signal is a therapeutic target for IPNB and associated carcinoma.

Intraductal papillary neoplasm of bile duct: all rare in one

A 45-year-old woman was referred from Department of Dermatology to Surgery outpatient department with pruritus since 6 months and an episode of jaundice that lasted for 15 days about 6 months ago. She was referred with a contrast-enhanced MRI finding that showed a small lesion in the lower end of common bile duct. Endoscopy-guided biopsy was performed twice at our hospital, the second revealed low grade dysplasia. Consequently, she underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy. Intraoperatively, there were both vascular and biliary anatomical variations that were missed on preoperative images. On histopathological examination, it turned out to be a mixed variety of intraductal papillary neoplasm of bile duct (IPNB). As all findings were rare in one, hence, we present this case of IPNB that presented to us with variable clinical, radiological, surgical and pathological findings.

Living donor liver transplantation for diffuse biliary papillomatosis with malignant change: A case report with 10-year follow-up

Biliary papillomatosis is a rare disease of the biliary tract. In this study, we present a case of a male patient with biliary papillomatosis with malignant change who underwent living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). The 49-year-old man was admitted due to intrahepatic ductal mass, which was finally diagnosed as biliary papillomatosis. It was initially treated by photodynamic therapy, but LDLT was planned due to low efficacy of photodynamic therapy. LDLT was performed with a right liver graft from his son. The pathology report revealed intraductal papillary neoplasm with associated invasive carcinoma. He recovered uneventfully. Although the distal bile duct resection margin was free of tumor, the risk of tumor recurrence at the remnant intrahepatic bile duct still remained. Therefore, staged pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy was planned. However, after 3 months, he was readmitted due to retropancreatic abscess. It took 6 months to control the intractable retropancreatic abscess. Due to late development of retropancreatic abscess and its slow recovery, staged pancreatoduodenectomy was no longer considered. The patient recovered complete at 1 year posttransplant without any evidence of disease recurrence. After 5 years posttransplant, lung metastasis developed and pulmonary metastasectomy was performed three times. No further recurrence developed during the last 3 years to date, and the patient currently is alive, 10 years after the LDLT. Experience on our case and literature review suggest that patients with biliary papillomatosis with or without malignant transformation are selectively indicated for liver transplantation.

Precursors to Cholangiocarcinoma

Cancers of the biliary tract include intra- and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas and gallbladder cancer. Biliary tract cancers are diseases with unfavorable prognoses. In recent years, several lesions have been described as precursors that precede biliary cancers. They include flat and microscopic lesions known as biliary intraepithelial neoplasia, macroscopic and tumor-forming intraductal papillary biliary neoplasia, intraductal tubular neoplasia, and mucinous cystic neoplasm of the bile duct. These conditions are rarely diagnosed, while their natural history and progression to cancer have yet to be adequately characterized. This review examines the epidemiology, pathology, molecular biology, diagnosis, and therapy of these various precursors. Further research is required if we are to better understand this evolving field and improve the prevention and early detection of bile duct cancer.

[Surgical approach to benign bile duct alterations]

BACKGROUND

Benign biliary diseases comprise entities, which present with very similar pathognomonic symptoms despite fundamental etiological differences. Obstructions of intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts due to stones, tumors or parasites as well as stenoses and cystic alterations belong to the group of benign biliary diseases.

OBJECTIVE

This article provides a systematic overview of the indications and differential treatment of benign biliary diseases with special emphasis on the surgical treatment.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The presented recommendations are in accordance with national and international guidelines, current scientific papers and expert opinions.

RESULTS

Essentially the surgical options for benign biliary diseases consist of revision, reconstruction through bilioenteric anastomosis, resection and complete organ replacement in the sense of liver transplantation. The location of the affected segment of the biliary tree, the symptoms, the progress of the disease and suspected malignancy essentially determine the level of escalation in the described treatment level scheme.

CONCLUSION

The treatment of benign biliary diseases is complex and requires achievement of unimpaired, unobstructed bile drainage. It serves the purpose of resolving cholestasis and thereby avoiding recurrent cholangitis and long-term complications, such as biliary cirrhosis and malignant transformation; however, in some cases of premalignant lesions of the bile ducts the strategy resembles cancer surgery, including resection of the affected tissue.

Impact of Tumor Location on Postoperative Outcome of Intraductal Papillary Neoplasm of the Bile Duct

BACKGROUND

The concept of intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB) has been proposed to be the biliary equivalent of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) of the pancreas. While the classification of IPMNs is based on their location of duct involvement, such classification has not been fully evaluated for IPNBs. The aim of this study is to investigate the value of IPNB classification based on its location.

METHODS

A total of 306 consecutive patients who underwent surgical resection with a diagnosis of bile duct tumor were enrolled. Among these patients, 21 were diagnosed as having IPNB. The IPNBs were classified into two groups as follows: extrahepatic IPNB, which located in the distal or perihilar bile duct, and intrahepatic IPNB, which located more peripherally than the hilar bile duct. The clinicopathological features of the two groups were then compared.

RESULTS

Extrahepatic IPNB tended to show more invasive characteristics than intrahepatic IPNB (presence of invasive component: 40.0 vs. 9.1%, p = 0.084). Moreover, patients with extrahepatic IPNB showed significantly poorer relapse-free survival (RFS) than those with intrahepatic IPNB [5-year RFS rate (%): 81.8 vs. 16.2, p = 0.014].

CONCLUSION

Patients with intrahepatic IPNB show more favorable pathological characteristics and postoperative survival outcomes than those with extrahepatic IPNB.

Haemostatic radiation therapy for a bleeding intraductal papillary neoplasm of the biliary tree

Haemostatic radiation was effectively used as a novel rescue therapy in a 60-year-old man who presented with recurrent melaena refractory to all conventional medical and surgical measures. He needed multiple transfusions and was diagnosed to be bleeding from an intraductal papillary biliary neoplasm which was not amenable to surgical resection in view of the background liver disease. He received conventional radiation therapy (RT) of a dose of 3 Gy per fraction for 3 consecutive days after which he stabilised. After cessation of the RT, he did not require transfusion for the next 2 months. His quality of life improved and it gave us time to evaluate for other definitive measures.

Intraductal Papillary Neoplasm of the Bile Duct: Clinical, Imaging, and Pathologic Features

OBJECTIVE

We outline the concept of intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB), discuss the morphologic features of IPNB and the differential diagnoses, and describe the radiologic approaches used in multidisciplinary management.

CONCLUSION

The concept of IPNB has been evolving. Because the imaging features of IPNB can be variable, different mimickers according to IPNB subtype can be considered. A multimodality approach is essential to obtain an optimal diagnosis and establish treatment plans.

Intraductal papillary bile duct adenocarcinoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumor in a case of neurofibromatosis type 1

We report our experience with a synchronous case of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB) in an elderly woman with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1). A 72-year-old woman presented with a 2-mo history of right upper abdominal pain unrelated to diet and indigestion. Fourteen years earlier, she had been diagnosed with NF-1, which manifested as café au lait spots and multiple nodules on the skin. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a multilocular low-density mass with septation, and mural nodules in the right hepatic lobe, as well as a 1.7-cm-sized well-demarcated enhancing mass in the third portion of the duodenum. The patient subsequently underwent right hepatectomy and duodenal wedge resection. We present here the first report of a case involving a synchronous IPNB and GIST in a patient with NF-1. Our findings demonstrate the possibility of various tumors in NF-1 patients and the importance of diagnosis at an early stage

Long-term outcome of surgical resection for intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB) is a specific type of bile duct tumor. Studies about the surgical outcomes for IPNB are few; therefore, we investigated the survival of patients who underwent curative surgical resection of IPNB.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the medical and pathological records of 148 IPNB patients who underwent curative-intent hepatic resection between January 2005 and December 2011, to examine the prognosis of IPNB. All demographic and operative parameters were analyzed the effect on survival of patients.

RESULTS

The median survival of IPNB patients was 1326 days with a respective 1, 3, and 5 year overall survival of 83.6% (95%CI: 76.5-88.7), 64.4% (95%CI: 56.0-71.6), and 47% (95%CI: 38.4-55.7). The level of invasiveness of IPNB predicted survival very well. For malignant IPNB, univariate analysis showed that serum CA19-9 level, lymph node metastasis, and completeness of resection were significant prognostic factors. Lymph node metastasis and completeness of resection were found in multivariate analysis to be significantly related to survival of the patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The level of invasiveness and lymph node status were found to be associated with patient survival, as was adequacy of surgery. We recommend R0 resection be attempted for patients with IPNB.

A case of biliary cystic tumor with repeated hemobilia

Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB) is classified as a biliary cystic tumor with a tendency of causing obstruction. Neoplastic cases involving hemobilia are rarely reported. We herein describe a case of biliary cystic tumor with repeated hemobilia. A 57-year-old woman was histologically diagnosed with cavernous hemangioma. During the follow-up period after transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE), she experienced repeated hemobilia, and multiple other TAE sessions were performed for hemostasis. She was referred to our hospital 8 years after the first surgery owing to a growing tumor. Histopathological examination after extended right hepatectomy and caudate lobectomy indicated IPNB with an associated invasive carcinoma. Six months thereafter, computed tomography revealed a recurrent liver tumor and a nodule in the abdominal cavity. She died 36 months after the second surgery, despite chemotherapy. Our experience suggests that IPNB should be considered during differential diagnosis of dilated hepatobiliary tumors with hemobilia.

Successful surgical treatment of extrahepatic biliary papillomatosis diagnosed with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: a case report

Introduction

Biliary papillomatosis is a condition characterized by multiple papillary tumors of variable distribution and extent within the biliary tract. Papillary carcinoma can develop in these lesions. It is a rare biliary pathological entity and its clinical features and outcome are not well known.

Case presentation

We experienced a case of biliary papillomatosis in a 51-year-old North African man who presented with obstructive jaundice. Laboratory tests showed elevated bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase levels. Imaging (ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging) was suggestive of Klatskin tumor associated to common bile duct stones. After endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, a balloon sweep retrieved friable tissue from his bile ducts. Histology demonstrated papillary adenomatous proliferation showing high-grade dysplasia and he was referred for surgical management.

Conclusions

Although biliary papillomatosis is rare, it is a premalignant condition that should be well known and considered in all diagnoses of obstructive jaundice. We report a new case of biliary papillomatosis and highlight the contribution of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in the diagnosis of this condition.

Intraductal papillary neoplasms of the bile duct

Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB) is a rare variant of bile duct tumors characterized by papillary growth within the bile duct lumen and is regarded as a biliary counterpart of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas. IPNBs display a spectrum of premalignant lesion towards invasive cholangiocarcinoma. The most common radiologic findings for IPNB are bile duct dilatation and intraductal masses. The major treatment of IPNB is surgical resection. Ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance image, and cholangiography are usually performed to assess tumor location and extension. Cholangioscopy can confirm the histology and assess the extent of the tumor including superficial spreading along the biliary epithelium. However, pathologic diagnosis by preoperative biopsy cannot always reflect the maximum degree of atypia, because IPNBs are often composed of varying degrees of cytoarchitectural atypia. IPNBs are microscopically classified into four epithelial subtypes, such as pancreatobiliary, intestinal, gastric, and oncocytic types. Most cases of IPNB are IPN with high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia or with an associated invasive carcinoma. The histologic types of invasive lesions are either tubular adenocarcinoma or mucinous carcinoma. Although several authors have investigated molecular genetic changes during the development and progression of IPNB, these are still poorly characterized and controversial.

Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct

Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB) is a variant of bile duct carcinoma that is characterized by intraductal growth and better outcomes compared with common cholangiocarcinoma. IPNBs are mainly found in patients from Far Eastern areas, where hepatolithiasis and clonorchiasis are endemic. According to the immunohistochemical profiles of the mucin core proteins, IPNBs are classified into four types: pancreaticobiliary, intestinal, gastric, and oncocytic. Approximately 40%-80% of IPNBs contain a component of invasive carcinoma or tubular or mucinous adenocarcinoma, suggesting that IPNB is a disease with high potential for malignancy. It is difficult to make an accurate preoperative diagnosis because of IPNB’s low incidence and the lack of specificity in its clinical manifestation. The most common abnormal preoperative imaging findings of IPNB are intraductal masses and the involvement of bile duct dilation. Simultaneous proximal and distal bile duct dilation can be detected in some cases, which has diagnostic significance. Cholangiography and cholangioscopy are needed to confirm the pathology and demonstrate the extent of the lesions. However, pathologic diagnosis by biopsy cannot reflect the actual stage in many cases because different foci may be of different stages and because mixed pathologic findings may exist in the same lesion. Surgical resection is the major treatment. Systematic cholangioscopy with staged biopsies and frozen sections is recommended during resection to ensure that no minor tumors are left and that curative resection is achieved. Staging, histologic subtype, curative resection and lymph node metastasis are factors affecting long-term survival.

Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct accompanying biliary mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma

We present the first case of an intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB) accompanying a mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma (MANEC). A 74-year-old woman presented with fever of unknown cause. Laboratory data revealed jaundice and liver injury. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a 20 mm polypoid tumor in the dilated distal bile duct, which exhibited early enhancement and papillary growth. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed mucus production from the papilla of Vater, characterized by its protruding and dilated orifice. Endoscopic ultrasonography visualized the polypoid tumor in the distal bile duct, but no invasive region was suggested by diagnostic imaging. Therefore, the initial diagnosis was IPNB. After endoscopic nasobiliary drainage, a pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed. Pathological examination of the resected bile duct revealed papillary proliferation of biliary-type cells with nuclear atypia, indicating pancreaticobiliary-type IPNB. In addition, solid portions comprised of tumor cells with characteristic salt-and-pepper nuclei were evident. Immunohistochemistry revealed expression of the neuroendocrine marker synaptophysin in this solid component, diagnosing it as a neuroendocrine tumor (NET). Furthermore, the MIB-1 proliferation index of NET was higher than that of IPNB, and microinvasion of the NET component was found, indicating neuroendocrine carcinoma (NET G3). This unique case of MANEC, comprising IPNB and NET, provides insight into the pathogenesis of biliary NET.

Biliary papillomatosis in three Caucasian patients in a Western centre

INTRODUCTION

Biliary papillomatosis (BP) is a rare condition with a strong potential for malignant transformation and cases from Western centres are sparse.(1) We discuss the presentation, investigation and management of this condition in three Caucasian patients and present a review of the existing literature on BP.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The case notes of three Caucasian patients with BP who presented to our tertiary referral centre were reviewed. Their case histories, investigations and managements are presented. A search of MEDLINE, PubMed and Cochrane databases was performed to review relevant literature around BP.

DISCUSSION

BP is a rare condition characterised by multiple papillary adenomas involving the biliary tree which lead to recurrent attacks of cholangitis. It is a low-grade neoplasm with high malignant potential and should be regarded as a pre-malignant lesion.