Bile plug syndrome

Case contributed by Francis Fortin
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Newborn with onset of pale (acholic) stools, normal urine. Workup shows cholestasis and aminotranferases increase. Suspected biliary atresia.

Patient Data

Age: 17 days
Gender: Male
ultrasound

Echogenic debris in the dilated gallbladder, cystic duct and distal intra-pancreatic common bile duct. Mild central intrahepatic bile duct dilatation. No other notable anomaly on exam.

Annotated image

Annotated selected ultrasound images showing sludge in the dilated gallbladder, cystic duct and distal intra-pancreatic common bile duct.

Case Discussion

Ultrasound findings in this newborn are in keeping with bile plug syndrome. This entity has a much better prognosis than the commoner biliary atresia which should be ruled out in newborns with cholestasis.

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