Foreign body reaction to a metal clip causing a benign bile duct stricture 16 years after open cholecystectomy: report of a case.

We present herein a case where a benign bile duct stricture developed 16 years after an open cholecystectomy and without any prior symptoms. The patient was thought to have a Klatskin tumor both pre- and intraoperatively and was treated with a resection of the mass and bile duct confluence, while hepaticojejunostomies were also performed to both ducts separately. A pathologic examination of the specimen revealed extensive fibrosis, chronic inflammation, and a nonnecrotizing granulomata. Any hilar mass presenting after upper abdominal surgery should therefore be considered to be potentially a benign bile duct stricture, even with a long symptom-free interval.