Hepatic resection for intrahepatic ductal stones.

Intrahepatic stones that have caused irreversible ductal damage may need unusual treatment. When other treatments fail, resection of the affected portion of the liver is usually curative. Clinical features may be misleading: pain and sepsis are common, but jaundice is not. Diagnosis depends on awareness and critical use of special tests; ducts unseen may be culprits. Resection most often is easy, for usually the left hepatic ducts are affected.