Hemobilia caused by liver abscess due to intrahepatic duct stones

• DOI: 10.1007/s00535-002-1087-2
• Publication Date: 2003-11-26T23:27:58Z
• Authors: Young-Eun Joo; Hyun-Soo Kim; Sung-Kyu Choi; Jong-Sun Rew; Hyun-Jong Kim; Sei-Jong Kim
• Keywords: Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; Male; 03 medical and health sciences; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic; 0302 clinical medicine; Cholelithiasis; Hemobilia; Liver Abscess; Humans; Middle Aged; 3. Good health

Hemobilia occurs when injury or disease causes communication between intrahepatic blood vessels and the biliary tract. Causes of hemobilia include trauma; gallstones; inflammatory diseases; and vascular disorders such as aneurysm, tumor, and coagulopathy. Recently, with the increasing use of invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures involving the hepatobiliary tract, an increasing proportion of the causes of hemobilia have been of iatrogenic origin. Hemobilia may also be associated with liver abscess, but this condition is very rare. Our review of the English-language literature disclosed few cases of liver abscess associated with hemobilia. Here, we present a case of hemobilia caused by liver abscess due to intrahepatic duct stones. Liver abscess should be considered in the causes of hemobilia, especially in areas where hepatobiliary parasitic infection is endemic.