Atrophy and ductopenia of the right hepatic lobe in a patient with choledocholithiasis

Abstract

An extremely rare case of atrophy and extensive ductopenia of the right hepatic lobe is presented. The surgically resected atrophic right lobe (100 g) did not show cholestasis or cirrhosis. The right hepatic bile duct revealed sclerosis with luminal obliteration and marked diminution of its branches. The extrahepatic bile duct contained a single cholesterol stone. The right portal vein branches showed luminal narrowing. Disturbance of biliary drainage following sclerosing cholangitis and impediment of portal venous flow in the right hepatic lobe were considered responsible for atrophy of the lobe. Although choledocholithiasis presumably played an important part in the pathogenesis of the sclerosing cholangitis and ductopenia, the reason for selective involvement of the right biliary tree remains nuclear.