Spontaneous bronchobiliary fistula: Case report

Authors

  • Marzia Acquasanta
  • Gaia Spadarella
  • Enrico Maria Civelli

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3941/jrcr.v14i10.3743

Keywords:

Bronchobiliary fistula, biliobrochial fistula, fistulogram, lung, biliary tree, inflammatory pulmonary consolidation

Abstract

Bronchobiliary fistula (BBF) is a rare condition that results from the communication between the bile ducts and the bronchial tree. It is characterized by the presence of bile in the sputum as pathognomonic symptom, and it is often associated with suspicious pneumonia. The most common causes include infections (e.g. echinococcosis), hepatobiliary surgery, blunt torso traumas, tumors and percutaneous transhepatic procedures. Opinions about BBF treatment are still controversial as it can be treated by both conservative and surgical procedures, while pharmacological treatments are only rarely used. This case report presents a patient who had been diagnosed with chronic BBF of unknown cause, underwent several ineffective conservative procedures and was at last surgically treated.

Author Biographies

Marzia Acquasanta

Postgraduate School in Radiodiagnostics, Universití  degli Studi di Milano, Via Festa del Perdono 7, 20122 Milan, Italy

Gaia Spadarella

Postgraduate School in Radiodiagnostics, Universití  degli Studi di Milano, Via Festa del Perdono 7, 20122 Milan, Italy

Enrico Maria Civelli

Department of Radiology, Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via Venezian 1, 20133 Milano, Italy

Published

2020-10-26

Issue

Section

Thoracic Radiology