Abstract
Patterns of union of bile ducts in the porta hepatis were investigated in 213 patients by direct cholangiography. Hepatic ducts and their proximal ducts in the porta hepatis had a bifurcating pattern in 70%. There was trifurcation in 14%. The right posterior duct joined the common hepatic duct in 5%, and the right posterior duct joined the left hepatic duct in 11%. In two patients (1%) with the bifurcating pattern, the inferior posterior right hepatic duct arose from the porta hepatis at the right hepatic duct. Another two patients (1%) with the bifurcating pattern had variant union at the porta hepatis. Such variations have been called accessory hepatic ducts; however, they can be thought of instead simply as unusual patterns of union. The term “accessory” is misleading, because these ducts have the same drainage functions as normal hepatic ducts. “Accessory” hepatic ducts could be better termed “variant” hepatic ducts.
