PayYourBillMyChildren'sPatientPortalInternationalVisitorsWaystoHelpCareersDonateDonateForPatientsForHealthCareProfessionalsPrograms&ServicesConditions&TreatmentsResearchInnovationCloseForPatientsForHealthCareProfessionalsPrograms&ServicesConditions&TreatmentsResearchInnovationInternationalVisitorsWaystoHelpCareersDonateDonatePayYourBillMyChildren'sPatientPortalConditionsContacttheCenterforChildhoodLiverDisease617-355-5837RequestanAppointmentRequestASecondOpinionContacttheCenterforChildhoodLiverDisease617-355-5837RequestanAppointmentRequestASecondOpinionNavigationOverviewDiagnosis&TreatmentsPrograms&ServicesCholedochalCystsWhatisacholedochalcyst?Acholedochalcystisacongenitalanomalyoftheduct(tube)thattransportsbilefromthelivertothegallbladderandsmallintestine.Theliverproducesbiletohelpdigestfood.Whenachildhasacholedochalcyst,aswellingofthatduct,bilemaybackupintheliver.Thiscancauseliverproblemsorinflammationofthepancreas(pancreatitis)becauseitblocksthemainductfromthepancreasglandtotheintestine.Childrenwithcholedochalcystshaveahigherrateofcancerofthebileductinadulthood.Earlytreatmentcanreducetheserisks.Choledochalcystsarerare:oneinevery100,000to150,000childreninWesterncountriesisbornwithcholedochalcysts.Girlsarefourtimesmorelikelytobeaffectedthanboys.TheconditionismorecommoninEastAsiancountries,especiallyJapan,thoughresearchersdonotknowwhy.Choledochalcystsarecongenital.Whatarethesymptomsofacholedochalcyst?Althoughchildrenarebornwithcholedochalcysts,symptomsmayappearininfancyornotforseveralyears.Thefollowingsymptomsmayoccurininfantsorolderchildren:abdominalmasspainintherightupperbellyjaundicenauseaandvomitingfeverWhatcausescholedochalcysts?Thebileducttransportsbilefromtheliver,throughthepancreas,tothefirstpartofthesmallintestine(theduodenum).Researchersbelievethatcholedochalcystsformwhenthereisanabnormalityattheintersectionbetweenthebileductandpancreaticduct.Thisabnormalconnectionforcespancreaticjuicetoflowbackwardintothebileductandmaycausecyststoform.Typesandlocations