A Case Report of Stones Formation in the Common Bile Duct due to a Core of a Plant

Masashi Takahashi, Hiroshi Ishii, Masanori Koizumi, Susumu Sano

Department of Surgery, Sanuma Public General Hospital

Foreign bodies are very rare in the common bile duct. We report a case of stones formation in the common bile duct due to a core of a plant material. A 34-year-old man was admitted to our hospital complaining of severe abdominal pain and fever. He has never been operated on. Ultrasonography and computed tomogrephy revealed common bile duct stones. Cholecystectomy and choledochotomy were performed. The stones in the common bile duct were formed around a core of plant material. Using scanning electron micrography, the plant proved to be wild true grasses. Perfusion cholangiometry showed normal duodenal papillary function. Even if the duodenal function is normal, digested material may be able to enter into the common bile duct by chance. To the best of our knowledge, no previous such a case has been reported.

Key words
common bile duct stones, biliary foreign bodies

Reprint requests
Masashi Takahashi Department of Surgery, Sanuma Public General Hospital
25 Shimotanaka, Hasama, Tomegun, Miyagi, 987-05, JAPAN

Accepted
May 8, 1991

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