Biliary atresia is a progressive obliteration of the bile ducts from inflammation. The exact cause of biliary atresia is not known but it may be related to an immune response to an infection or in some cases the ducts may have never properly formed. Since bile from the liver can’t go through these ducts, it backs up in the liver and causes scarring and damage to the liver. Biliary atresia is usually first noticed by either a yellow color in the skin (jaundice) or a decrease of color of the stool (clay or white colored stools). If treated early, some infants with biliary atresia can be cured with a Kasai Procedure. Many others, however, despite having a Kasai operation, ultimately go on to have liver failure and will require a liver transplant.
Choledochal cysts are dilated or swollen areas of the bile ducts that prevent normal flow of bile through the
duct. Patients are born with this cyst. Patients with a choledochal cyst may develop symptoms as an infant or as a teenager or any time
in between. These symptoms usually include becoming jaundiced (yellow color of the skin or eyes) or having right upper abdominal pain
and abnormalities in their liver enzymes.
