Childhood-onset Caroli's disease as a cause of recurrent fever: A case report

Caroli's disease misdiagnosed as bile duct cystadenoma: A case report

Caroli's disease is also known as Congenital intrahepatic bile duct dilatation, and previously known as a congenital intrahepatic bile duct cyst; it is characterized by single or multiple intrahepatic cystic dilatations. In this article, we report a case of Caroli's disease (CT size 21.2 × 16.9 × 19.8 cm). Preoperative abdominal ultrasound and enhanced CT were misdiagnosed as biliary cystadenoma or hepatic echinococcosis, and finally diagnosed as Caroli's disease by postoperative histopathological examinations. Most of the disease is single or multiple cystic dilatation of small bile duct. Giant Caroli disease, cystic dilations with diameter >20 cm is very rarely seen in the clinic. The lack of experience of diagnosing giant cystic dilatation makes it difficult to make accurate diagnosis. Therefore, we analyze the causes of imaging misdiagnosis through this case report, and summarize the imaging diagnostic skills of the disease combined with relevant imaging diagnosis experience. The purpose of this study is to deepen the understanding of giant Caroli disease among imaging doctors so as to reduce the misdiagnosis of the disease in the future.

A Unique Case of Caroli Disease in Kenya's Medical Landscape

BACKGROUND If a young patient presents with fever, abdominal pain, jaundice and significant imaging abnormalities, especially dilation of the biliary system, it is usually due to obstruction from stones or strictures. However, on very rare occasions, it can be due to complications of congenital cystic dilatation of the biliary system, known as Caroli disease. We present such a patient and discuss the differential diagnosis and implications for long-term management. CASE REPORT A 14-year-old boy presented to the Emergency Department with a sudden onset of high-grade fever and abdominal pain for 2 weeks, accompanied by vomiting of blood. The patient had no relevant medical history. He was malnourished and had moderate pallor, jaundice, and right upper quadrant pain. Imaging revealed cystic dilatation of intrahepatic ducts and a central dot sign. There were no features suggesting advanced liver disease otherwise, and no tumors or cysts in the kidneys. A diagnosis of Caroli disease was made. The symptoms were ascribed to acute cholangitis and improved with antibiotics. He was discharged home 1 week later. No further blood loss was observed. CONCLUSIONS This case study describes a patient with ascending cholangitis, a complication of Caroli disease. This diagnosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis when a child or young adult presents with features of cholangitis, abnormal biliary imaging, and/or upper gastrointestinal bleeding, or portal hypertension. No prior cases of this disease have been encountered, documented, or published in Kenya. This case can increase awareness among primary care clinicians, including pediatricians.