Cystic Hamartoma of the Left Hepatic Bile Duct

Abstract
A 35-year-old woman had intermittent obstructive jaundice due to a suspected ball-valve type mechanism at the porta hepatis, which was confirmed by endoscopic retrograde pancreatic cholangiogram. At reexploration, a benign cystic hamartoma of the left extrahepatic bile duct was found and removed, with no recurrence of symptoms. Pathogenesis of jaundice in unilateral extrahepatic bile duct obstruction remains obscure. (JAMA235:630-631, 1976)