BACKGROUND: The dorsal subsegmental intrahepatic bile duct in the right anterior superior segment (B8c) sometimes joins the posterior sectorial duct. In such cases it can be misidentified as the right posterior superior segmental duct (B7). However, there are no published studies on the confluent pattern of B8c. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied B8c in the resected liver of 107 patients (65 with bile duct carcinoma and 42 with gallbladder carcinoma) who had undergone right hepatectomy or more extensive right-sided liver resection. RESULTS: B8c was identified in all cases. It joined the right posterior sectorial duct or B7 in 18 cases (16.8%). In 12 cases B8c joined independently the posterior sectorial duct or B7. In 6 cases B8c joined the posterior sectorial duct after making the common duct with the lateral subsegmental duct in the anterior superior or anterior inferior segment (B8b or B5c). CONCLUSIONS: B8c does not join the anterior sectorial bile duct in every sixth case.
BACKGROUND: The dorsal subsegmental intrahepatic bile duct in the right anterior superior segment (B8c) sometimes joins the posterior sectorial duct. In such cases it can be misidentified as the right posterior superior segmental duct (B7). However, there are no published studies on the confluent pattern of B8c. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied B8c in the resected liver of 107 patients (65 with bile duct carcinoma and 42 with gallbladder carcinoma) who had undergone right hepatectomy or more extensive right-sided liver resection. RESULTS: B8c was identified in all cases. It joined the right posterior sectorial duct or B7 in 18 cases (16.8%). In 12 cases B8c joined independently the posterior sectorial duct or B7. In 6 cases B8c joined the posterior sectorial duct after making the common duct with the lateral subsegmental duct in the anterior superior or anterior inferior segment (B8b or B5c). CONCLUSIONS: B8c does not join the anterior sectorial bile duct in every sixth case.