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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Indian J Radiol Imaging 2017; 27(03): 306-309
DOI: 10.4103/ijri.IJRI_460_16
Gastrointestinal Radiology and Hepatology

Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the biliary tree: A rare cause of obstructive jaundice in children which can mimic choledochal cysts

Dhara J Kinariwala
Division of Pediatric Imaging, Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
,
Andrew Y Wang
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
,
Patrick D Melmer
Division of Pediatric Imaging, Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
,
William P McCullough
Division of Pediatric Imaging, Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
› Author Affiliations Financial support and sponsorship Nil.
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Abstract

Jaundice in children is more often due to hepatic disease than obstruction. Differential considerations for obstructive jaundice in children include choledocholithiasis, choledochal cysts and rare neoplasms. Rhabdomyosarcoma, the most common soft tissue sarcoma in pediatric patients, typically involves the head and neck, genitourinary system and extremities. Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the biliary tree is a rare entity. We present a 3-year-old boy with abrupt onset obstructive jaundice. Although initial imaging suggested a dilated biliary system with fusiform common bile duct, sludge, and possible cholelithiasis, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatogram (ERCP) diagnosed a common bile duct embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma and further imaging showed involvement of the cystic duct. This case illustrates the importance of considering malignant etiologies in cases of obstructive jaundice, particularly when imaging is not classic for common causes.

Keywords

Biliary choledochal cyst - obstructive jaundice - pediatric - rhabdomyosarcoma


Publication History

Article published online:
27 July 2021

© 2017. Indian Radiological Association. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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