What are biliary hamartomas?

Biliary hamartomas are very small, dense cysts. They are usually scattered all over the liver. They are rare and affect less than 1 in 100 children. They are not a type of cancer and do not cause any problems.

Biliary hamartomas are also known as ‘bile duct hamartomas’ or ‘Von Meyenburg complexes’. They are often found in normal livers. Most children have no symptoms. The liver will continue to work, and no treatment or monitoring is needed.

Biliary hamartomas can happen alongside other diseases that affect the liver and kidneys. They are more common in children and young people with:

• autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD)
• congenital hepatic fibrosis (CHF)
• Caroli syndrome

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How are biliary hamartomas diagnosed?

Biliary hamartomas are often found by accident. This can happen when doctors are doing scans to look for something else. The cysts may be mistaken for cancer when they are first found. Your child will have more tests to confirm the diagnosis.

Tests used may include:

• abdominal ultrasound scan
• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP)

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What are the symptoms of biliary hamartomas?

Most children show no signs or symptoms. If symptoms do happen, they may be similar to the symptoms for bile duct infection (cholangitis). They can include:

• high temperature (fever)
• tummy (abdominal) pain
• yellowing of the whites of the eyes and skin (jaundice)
• being sick (vomiting)

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How are biliary hamartomas treated?

Biliary hamartomas do not usually cause problems. In most children, the liver continues to work normally, and no treatment is needed. Treatments will only be used if your child develops symptoms that cause concern.

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What are the possible complications of biliary hamartoma?

Biliary hamartomas are not a type of cancer. But there is a very small risk they could transform and progress to bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma).

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