Long-term observation and treatment of a widespread intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct extending from the intrapancreatic bile duct to the bilateral intrahepatic bile duct: A case report

INTRODUCTION: Few studies have reported the long-term outcomes of surgical resected intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB). Here, we describe the long-term observation and treatment of a case of widespread IPNB. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 57-year-old male was referred to our hospital due to jaundice and dilation of the intrahepatic bile duct. Computed tomography showed dilation and irregularities of the right intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts together with a 3 cm nodule in the common hepatic duct. Peroral cholangioscopy revealed mucinous discharge from the ampulla of Vater, which resulted in a diagnosis of IPNB. A biopsy of the nodule and the bile duct revealed papillary adenoma in all of them. Right hepatectomy, caudate lobectomy, extrahepatic bile duct resection, and left hepaticojejunostomy were performed. The nodule was histologically diagnosed as papillary carcinoma in situ, and R0 resection was performed. However, mucus production from the papillary adenoma in the B3 and B4 was observed. We carefully managed the patient's biliary tract by inserting a biliary drainage tube into the segment 2, and he has survived for more than 7 years since the initial treatment. DISCUSSION: Mucus might be produced after the surgical resection of IPNB even if s surgical margin was benign. Five-year survival rate of benign IPNB was reported from 85% to 100%. That might be caused by difference of the postoperative management of the biliary tract. CONCLUSIONS: Careful management of the biliary tract should be performed after surgical resection of IPNB.