Morphometric Analysis of the Hepatic Ducts: A Study on Autopsies

Objective: Human biliary tract consists of right, left, common hepatic, cystic, and bile ducts. A comprehensive knowledge of these ducts' parameters will be helpful in surgical and radiological practice. This study aimed to morphometrically analyze human bile ducts in fresh autopsies. Methods: In this descriptive study, 35 extrahepatic biliary tracts of deceased bodies, subjected to medico-legal autopsies at Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya were dissected. Lengths and external diameters of right hepatic duct (RHD) left hepatic duct (LHD), and common hepatic duct (CHD) were measured using a calibrated digital vernier caliper. Results: Thirty-five fresh liver and biliary tract samples were studied. Mean age of the deceased was 63.2 years. There were 32 Huang Type A1 and 3 Huang Type A2 bile duct variants. Mean lengths of RHD, LHD and CHD were 14.0 mm (SD–8.53, range 4.91–37.5 mm), 21.7 mm (SD–8.91, range 6.29–40.4 mm), 26.8mm (SD–11.9, range 9.7–74.9 mm) with diameters of 3.76 mm (SD–1.52, range 1.83–7.96 mm), 3.18 mm (SD–1.2, range 1.52–7.49 mm), 3.88 mm (SD–1.42, range 1.65–8.32 mm) respectively. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between diameters of RHD and CHD (Spearman's rho=0.387, p=0.029) and diameters of LHD and CHD (Spearman's rho=0.412, p=0.017). There was no significant difference between genders. Conclusion: There are significant positive correlations between diameters of RHD & CHD and LHD & CHD with no statistically significant difference between genders. Mean RHD, LHD, and CHD values are within ranges reported in literature. In this Sri Lankan sample, Huang Type A1 was the prominent variation.