BACKGROUND: Hepatolithiasis (HL) is a rare disease in Western countries. The aim of our study was to investigate a possible relation between the development of right HL and abnormalities of the hepatic duct confluence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fourteen patients who presented with localized right-sided HL were included in this study. The anatomy of hepatic duct confluence in this group of patients was analyzed and compared with the anatomy of hepatic duct confluence in the general population. RESULTS: The Presence of a shift of 1 of the 2 sectorial right ducts was significantly associated with right-sided HL (P = .003). CONCLUSIONS: The shift of a sectorial right duct must be considered as one of the anatomic causes of HL. This finding must be considered when surgical treatment of HL is planned.
BACKGROUND: Hepatolithiasis (HL) is a rare disease in Western countries. The aim of our study was to investigate a possible relation between the development of right HL and abnormalities of the hepatic duct confluence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fourteen patients who presented with localized right-sided HL were included in this study. The anatomy of hepatic duct confluence in this group of patients was analyzed and compared with the anatomy of hepatic duct confluence in the general population. RESULTS: The Presence of a shift of 1 of the 2 sectorial right ducts was significantly associated with right-sided HL (P = .003). CONCLUSIONS: The shift of a sectorial right duct must be considered as one of the anatomic causes of HL. This finding must be considered when surgical treatment of HL is planned.