BACKGROUND In the classic descriptions of the human liver, the common hepatic duct forms at the confluence of left and right hepatic ducts. Many authors have documented variations in the intra-hepatic ductal system, but to the best of our knowledge there has been no report on bile duct variations in Caribbean populations. AIM To evaluate the variations in bile duct anatomy using magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) in unselected patients at a major hepatobiliary referral centre in the Eastern Caribbean. Knowledge of the intra-hepatic biliary anatomy is important to optimize service delivery for any physician treating liver and biliary disorders. METHODS This study was carried out at a tertiary referral hospital for hepatobiliary diseases in the Eastern Caribbean. We retrospectively evaluated magnetic resonance cholangiograms in 152 consecutive patients at this facility over a two-year period from April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2019. Two consultant radiologists experienced in MRC interpretation reviewed all scans and described biliary anatomy according to the Huang’s classification. A systematic review of published studies was performed and relevant data were extracted in order to calculate the global prevalence of each biliary variant. The variants in our population were compared to the global population. RESULTS There were 152 MRCs evaluated in this study in 86 males and 66 females. There were 109 (71.7%) persons with “classic” biliary anatomy (type A1) and variants were present in 43 (28.3%) persons. There was no statistical relationship between the presence of anatomic variants and gender or ethnicity. We encountered the following variants: 29 (19.1%) type A2, 7 (4.6%) type A3, 6 (3.95%) type A4, 0 type A5 and a single variant (quadrification) that did not fit the classification system. Compared to the global prevalence, our population had a significantly greater occurrence of A1 anatomy (71.7% vs 62.6%; P = 0.0227) and A2 trifurcations (19.1% vs 11.5%; P = 0.0069), but a significantly lower incidence of A3 variants (4.61% vs 11.5%; P = 0.0047). CONCLUSION There are significant differences in intra-hepatic biliary anatomy in this unselected Eastern Caribbean population compared to global statistics. Specifically, persons of Caribbean descent have a greater incidence of Huang A2 trifurcations and a lower incidence of Huang A3 variants.

BackgroundCowden syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder with a predisposition to multiple benign and malignant tumors. In our patient, in addition to breast and endometrial malignancies as well as facial trichilemmomas, she was noted to have multiple meningiomas, pancreatic lipomas and lung cysts. These latter lesions have been noted in previous Cowden syndrome case reports, but are not included in the diagnostic criteria at this time. To our knowledge, this is the first case of multiple meningiomas in this syndrome. Further studies are therefore warranted to assess the significance of these findings in Cowden syndrome.Case presentationA middle-aged Afro-Caribbean known endometrial carcinoma patient (post surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy), presented with a locally advanced breast carcinoma. She received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by a modified radical mastectomy and axillary lymph node clearance. Her past medical history included a sphenoid wing meningioma for which she received definitive external beam radiotherapy. She was also known to have a multinodular goiter, anal polyp and longstanding mucocutaneous lesions. Further workup revealed additional smaller meningiomas, a parotid arteriovenous malformation, a lung cyst and pancreatic lipomas. Overall, consortium criteria were met for the diagnosis of Cowden syndrome. Furthermore, genetic testing identified a pathogenic mutation in the PTEN gene. She will be closely followed with annual clinical examination, dermatologic assessment and screening colonoscopies. She will perform interval whole body contrast enhanced CT for continued surveillance for metastatic disease.ConclusionCowden syndrome is likely to be an under diagnosed condition, but critically important to identify due to its cancer predisposition. When encountering multi-organ tumors, diagnostic criteria for Cowden syndrome should be sought in order to increase the diagnostic rates. Cancer surveillance for carcinoma detection in the early and curative stages remains the most critical aspect of management.

Purpose. There are many known variations in the arterial supply to the liver. We sought to document the incidence and details of anomalies of the extrahepatic arteries in an unselected population in the West Indies. Methods. This study spanned 24 months. All 205 CT scans were evaluated at a hepatobiliary referral center in Trinidad and Tobago. We described the anomalies of the arterial supply to the liver using the conventional classification proposed by Michels. Results. 205 CT scans were evaluated, and 112 persons (54.6%) had conventional Type 1 anatomy. However, compared to the incidence in the existing medical literature, we encountered a greater incidence of replaced right hepatic arteries (18.1% vs 11%; P   0.04 ) and a lower incidence of accessory right hepatic arteries (2.4% vs 7%; P   0.030 ). Conclusion. Although 54.6% of persons in this West Indian population have conventional hepatic arterial supply, the distribution of anatomic variants of the right hepatic artery is quite different to that seen in North American and European centers. We found a higher incidence of replaced right hepatic arteries and a lower incidence of accessory right hepatic arteries.

This article highlights the range of osseous findings that can be encountered as well as the imaging features of extramedullary haematopoiesis. As iron overload remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in these disorders, we also discuss the MRI evaluation of hepatic and cardiac hemosiderosis, to aid in the optimization of iron chelation therapy. Future imaging use will be dictated by evolving clinical needs, such as in screening for emerging morbidities, including hepatic fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.