The Role of Therapeutic Endoscopy Associated with Extracorporeal Shock-Wave Lithotripsy and Bile Acid Treatment in the Management of Caroli's Disease

Abstract

ERCP is a necessary diagnostic procedure which should always be carried out in patients with Caroli's disease. Our experience shows that ES does not result in an increased incidence of cholangitis and that therapeutic endoscopy allows complete clearance of intrahepatic stones in the majority of patients with unresectable symptomatic Caroli's disease. Nevertheless, the oncological risk in these patients remains unchanged, and they still have an increased risk of cholangiocarcinoma.