Published online May 6, 2020. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v8.i9.1745
Peer-review started: January 14, 2020
First decision: February 26, 2020
Revised: March 26, 2020
Accepted: April 17, 2020
Article in press: April 17, 2020
Published online: May 6, 2020
Biliary hamartomas (BH) are a rare benign disease caused by malformation of the intrahepatic bile ducts. BH are occasionally diagnosed, but often lack obvious clinical symptoms. They are usually diagnosed by biopsy and imaging tests in clinical practice. Few studies have reported the association of BH with portal hypertension.
A 40-year-old man was repeatedly admitted to our hospital due to hematochezia. The source of bleeding was considered to be gastroesophageal varices and portal hypertensive gastropathy by endoscopy. He had no history of hepatitis virus infection, alcohol abuse, drug-induced liver injury, or autoimmune liver disease. He underwent magnetic resonance imaging, which showed rounded, irregular, low-signal-T1 and high-signal-T2 lesions diffusely distributed on the liver, that were not communicated with the biliary system on magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography. According to the imaging examination, the patient was considered to have a diagnosis of BH with portal hypertension.
Based on the present case report, BH may be a potential etiology of portal hypertension.
Core tip: Biliary hamartomas (BH) are a rare benign disease caused by malformation of the intrahepatic bile ducts. BH are occasionally diagnosed, but often lack obvious clinical symptoms. Herein, we report a patient diagnosed with BH by imaging tests who presented with recurrent variceal bleeding, which suggested the possibility of BH as a potential cause of portal hypertension.