Multicystic biliary hamartoma mimicking intrahepatic bile duct cancer

Abstract

Although multicystic biliary hamartoma of the liver is a rare entity, recently several case reports have been described. The criteria proposed by Zen et al. include the presence of honeycomb-like nodules located around the hepatic capsule that are close to the hepatic falciform ligament and characteristically protrude from the liver.

In this report, we present a case of multicystic biliary hamartoma, which also features intrahepatic bile duct dilatation, and could therefore mimic a malignant neoplasm such as bile duct carcinoma. Our case highlights the potential difficulties in differentiating between multicystic biliary hamartoma and bile duct carcinomas under such circumstances.