A rare cause of obstructive jaundice - case report

Priya Mohan^1*, Sumathi Bavanandam² and Sunil Kumar KS³

¹Consultant, Pediatrician, Ezhil Hospital, Thodiarpet, Chennai, India

²Consultant, Pediatric Gastroenterologist, Chennai, India

³Senior Consultant, Pathologist, Apollo Hospital, Chennai, India

*Address for Correspondence: Dr. Priya Mohan M.D (Pediatrics), Consultant, Pediatrician, Ezhil Hospital, Thodiarpet, Chennai, India, Email: priyamohan600@gmail.com

Dates: Submitted: 08 June 2017; Approved: 07 July 2017; Published: 10 July 2017

How to cite this article: Mohan P, Bavanandam S, Sunil Kumar KS. A rare cause of obstructive jaundice- case report.Ann Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017; 1: 001-003. DOI: 10.29328/journal.acgh.1001001

Copyright License: © 2017 Mohan P, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Keywords: Eosinophilic cholangiopathy; Pancreatitis; Cholecystitis; Children

11 years old male child born of non consanguinous parents presented with abdominal pain, fever, jaundice, high coloured urine of 5 days duration. There was no family history of jaundice, allergy. Clinical examination showed scleral icterus, tender hepatomegaly with midline surgical scar. On perusal of his past medical records at seven years of age, from a different hospital he was investigated for generalized lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, prolonged fever and distended gall bladder. During the first admission, bone marrow examination was done which was followed by diagnostic laparotomy with cholecystectomy and lymph nodal biopsy. Marrow showed increased eosinophilic precursors and nodal biopsy was inconclusive. Reevaluation of histology of resected gall bladder specimen, showed xanthogranulomatous changes with numerous eosinophils and marked fibrosis suggestive of eosinophilic cholecystitis (Figure 1). As per the history he was not on any drugs. Investigations during this admission showed total count 7300×103/µL, polymorphs P 53%/L 34%/E 13%. Ultrasonography of abdomen showed hepatomegaly with biliary dilatation, Serum bilirubin 4.5 mg/dl, direct 2.9mg/dl, SGOT 165 IU/L, SGPT 125 IU/L, SAP 2875 IU/L,GGT 445IU/L, serum albumin 3.9gm/dl, amylase 48 IU/l, lipase 26 IU/l. Blood sugar, renal function tests were within normal limits. Serum IgE level above 1000 IU, absolute eosinophil count 920 cells/cumm. A diagnosis of Eosinophilic Cholangiopathy was considered. Autoimmune markers, screening for viral hepatitis, retroviral screening were negative. Due to financial constrains IgG subgroup was not done. MRI abdomen with MRCP showed biliary dilatation with pancreatic head mass (Figure 2). Based on the above clinical picture and earlier biopsy findings from gall bladder on reevaluation, diagnosis of Eosinophilic Cholangiopathy with pancreatitis was considered and hence repeat biopsy from pancreas was not done. He was started on oral prednisolone 1mg/kg for 6 months till now. As there are literature evidence in support of medical management, ERCP was not contemplated He responded well to treatment with decline in liver function tests, serum IgE level to 124 IU, eosinophil count to 7% and resolution of symptoms. The boy is on regular follow up.

Eosinophilic cholangiopathy is a rare benign disorder of the biliary system presenting as eosinophilic cholecystitis, eosinophilic cholangitis, eosinophilic pancreatitis. It is characterised by diffuse eosinophilic infiltration of the gallbladder wall, bile ducts, and pancreas respectively. Clinically children can present with benign biliary obstruction, with or without pancreatic mass lesion often being misdiagnosed as malignancy. This entity was first described by Leegard in 1980 and since then cases are being reported worldwide. Though the exact cause is not known, it has been reported with cholelithiasis, parasitic infestation, hypereosinophilic syndromes and allergic disorders [1,2].

Eosinophilic cholecystitis cannot be clinically distinguished from other forms of cholecystitis and the confirmation is often made by tissue histology [3]. Our patient presented with acalculous cholecystitis presenting as pyrexia of unknown origin requiring laparotomy with cholecystectomy. Probably he had progression of disease, presenting as obstructive jaundice due to cholangiopathy now. Though peripheral eosinophilia is present in most patients, bone marrow biopsy showing eosinophilic infiltration is known to occur [4,5].

Diagnostic criteria as proposed by Matsumoto et al. defines (1) wall thickening or stenosis of the biliary system; (2) histopathological findings of eosinophilic infiltration; and (3) reversibility of biliary abnormalities without treatment or following steroid treatment [6].

There are few case reports with pancreatic involvement mistaken for malignancy [7]. Multisystem involvement of liver, pleural, peritoneum and gastrointestinal tract, ureters are also reported [8], Treatment options are many including ERCP stent placement, hepaticojejunostomy and oral steroids. This case is being reported for its rarity. Although the role of steroids and hydroxyurea remains unclear, there are several cases of successful treatment with oral corticosteroids alone [9].