Impact of prior cholecystectomy on diagnosis and outcomes of choledochal cyst resection in adults

The diagnosis of choledochal cysts in the adult population is complicated by the expected physiologic dilation of the common bile duct after cholecystectomy. We aimed to compare patients who underwent choledochal cyst resection based on cholecystectomy status. A retrospective analysis was conducted of patients who underwent choledochal cyst resection between 1/1/1998-12/31/2021. Patients were categorized based on whether they had undergone cholecystectomy prior to choledochal cyst diagnosis. Preoperative imaging characteristics, pathology findings, and outcomes were evaluated. Amongst 119 patients who underwent excision, 58 (46 ​%) had and 69 (54 ​%) had not undergone prior cholecystectomy. Preoperative imaging demonstrated no difference in biliary tract diameter although a greater proportion of patients with a gallbladder in place had an anomalous pancreaticobiliary junction (55 ​% v 33 ​%, p ​