Abstract

CUMANA, R et al. Hemobilia: diagnóstico por imágenes. A propósito de dos casos. Gen [online]. 2011, vol.65, n.2, pp.132-135. ISSN 0016-3503.

The diagnosis of hemobilia is difficult in daily practice; treatment is designed to stop the bleeding and resolve its cause. Hepatic artery aneurysms are an uncommon condition and one of the rare causes of hemobilia; clinical presentation is nonspecific and includes abdominal pain, obstructive jaundice and upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Recently, due to the development of interventional radiology, the number of surgeries has successfully been reduced through transarterial embolization, achieving success rates between 80-100%.² We present 2 cases of hemobilia that were evaluated by ultrasound, MRI cholangiography and angiotomography. We describe the characteristics of this disease with the use of different imaging methods; with emphasis on the use of arteriography not only for diagnosis but also for treatment (embolization). In one case, the hemobilia was identified by duodenoscopy, and in the other by gastroscopy. Both patients underwent abdominal ultrasound that showed hepatomegaly, distended gallbladder with biliary sludge, distended bile ducts and a hypoechoic image in liver segment V. Doppler revealed active flow into the bile duct. Angiotomography and MRI reported an aneurysm in the right hepatic artery in close contact to the bile duct, correlated to the hypoechoic image seen by ultrasound. Both cases were treated with transarterial coil placements without any complications.

Keywords : Hemobilia; Ultrasound; Aneurysm.