"Common channel syndrome"--anomalous junction of the pancreatico-biliary ductal system.

A 7-year-old girl with a 3-year history of intermittent bouts of abdominal pain and jaundice underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography, which revealed an anomalous junction of the pancreatico-biliary ductal system (bile duct dilatation being virtually non-existent). These abdominal symptoms being considered to be attributable to the anomaly, resection of choledochus followed by hepatico-duodenostomy was performed. Now, one and a half years after operation, the patient is entirely asymptomatic. The legitimacy of "common channel syndrome" as an independent pathologic entity was proposed and the necessity of surgical treatment in its successful management was stressed.