Abstract
The diagnosis of hepatolithiasis, a condition which had previously been difficult to diagnose and treat, has become easier because of ultrasonic examination and puncture under ultrasonographic imaging. The results of treatment have also improved with the development of lithotomy under percutaneous cholangiographic observation by ultrasound, i.e., the application of ultrasonic examination and puncture. However, cholangiocarcinoma occurring as a complication of hepatolithiasis remains an important problem. The clinical course of a 28-year-old male patient who suffered cholangiocarcinoma associated with hepatolithiasis for 12 years is reported with references to the Japanese literature. Since cases of cholangiocarcinoma associated with hepatolithiasis are considered to result from repetition of chronic intrahepatic cholangitis and bile stagnation, it is necessary for the treatment of hepatolithiasis to perform ultrasonic examination together with biopsy of the bile duct in the liver by selective arteriography, biliary cytodiagnosis or cholangioscopy, even after lithotomy, and to continue careful postoperative observation.
