Original Article

Prognostic Significance of Cystic Biliary Dilatation in Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis

Volume 37 · Issue 6 Publish Date: March 25, 2026
Yavuz Emre Parlar ORCID Bengi Öztürk ORCID Onur Keskin ORCID Sabir İsrafilov ORCID Taylan Kav ORCID Cenk Sökmensüer ORCID Ahmet Bülent Doğrul ORCID Erkan Parlak ORCID
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Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology

Volume 37 · Issue 6

Pages: 665-672

History

Published Online: March 25, 2026

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Copyright © 2026 Yavuz Emre Parlar, Bengi Öztürk, Onur Keskin, Sabir İsrafilov, Taylan Kav, Cenk Sökmensüer, Ahmet Bülent Doğrul, Erkan Parlak

Yavuz Emre Parlar ORCID
Department of Gastroenterology, Sincan Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye
Bengi Öztürk ORCID
Department of Gastroenterology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
Onur Keskin ORCID
Department of Gastroenterology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
Sabir İsrafilov ORCID
Department of Gastroenterology, TOBB University of Economics and Technology Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye
Taylan Kav ORCID
Department of Gastroenterology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
Cenk Sökmensüer ORCID
Department of Medical Pathology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
Ahmet Bülent Doğrul ORCID
Department of General Surgery, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
Erkan Parlak ORCID
Department of Gastroenterology, TOBB University of Economics and Technology Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye
Parlar, Y. E., Öztürk, B., Keskin, O., İsrafilov, S., Kav, T., Sökmensüer, C., … Parlak, E. (2026). Prognostic Significance of Cystic Biliary Dilatation in Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis. Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology, 37(6), 665–672. https://doi.org/10.5152/tjg.2026.26055
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Abstract

Background/Aims: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic, progressive disease characterized by inflammatory and fibrotic strictures in the intrahepatic and/or extrahepatic bile ducts. Typical cholangiographic findings include multifocal, annular, short bile duct strictures with minimal upstream dilatation. However, in some patients, this dilatation progresses to cystic dimensions. The current study aimed to investigate whether the clinical features and prognosis of patients with cystic dilatation (CD) of the bile ducts differ from those of patients with classic cholangiographic PSC.

Materials and Methods: Demographic data, laboratory and clinical findings, and prognostic outcomes of patients with CD of the bile ducts who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and/or percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage at the hospital between 2017 and 2023 were compared with those of patients without CD.

Results: Of the 37 patients, 5 (13.5%) had cystic biliary dilatation. Median follow-up was 24 months (range, 12-62) in the CD group and 20 months (range, 8-52) in the non-cystic group. Patients with CD had a higher frequency of cholangitis (median attacks per patient, 1.6 vs. 0.3; P < .001), a greater proportion of recurrent cholangitis (4/5 [80%] vs. 7/32 [21.8%]; P = .038), an increased risk of end-stage liver disease (3/5 [60%] vs. 5/32 [15.6%]; P = .025), and higher mortality (1/5 [20%] vs. 2/32 [6.25%]; P = .045). Median transplant-free survival was significantly shorter in the cystic group (7.1 years [95% CI, 1-9] vs. 19.5 years; P = .017).

Conclusion: Cystic dilatation appears to be a clinically relevant prognostic feature in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis, however, confirmation in larger studies is warranted.

Cite this article as: Parlar YE, .ztürk B, Keskin O, et al. Prognostic significance of cystic biliary dilatation in primary sclerosing cholangitis. Turk J Gastroenterol. 2026;37(6):665-672.

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Article Info
Published In
Journal Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology
Volume / Issue Volume 37 · Issue 6
Pages 665-672
DOI 10.5152/tjg.2026.26055
History
Published Online March 25, 2026
License
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Copyright
Copyright (c) 2026 Yavuz Emre Parlar, Bengi Öztürk, Onur Keskin, Sabir İsrafilov, Taylan Kav, Cenk Sökmensüer, Ahmet Bülent Doğrul, Erkan Parlak
Affiliations
Yavuz Emre Parlar ORCID
Department of Gastroenterology, Sincan Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye
Bengi Öztürk ORCID
Department of Gastroenterology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
Onur Keskin ORCID
Department of Gastroenterology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
Sabir İsrafilov ORCID
Department of Gastroenterology, TOBB University of Economics and Technology Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye
Taylan Kav ORCID
Department of Gastroenterology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
Cenk Sökmensüer ORCID
Department of Medical Pathology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
Ahmet Bülent Doğrul ORCID
Department of General Surgery, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
Erkan Parlak ORCID
Department of Gastroenterology, TOBB University of Economics and Technology Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye
Cite this Article
Parlar, Y. E., Öztürk, B., Keskin, O., İsrafilov, S., Kav, T., Sökmensüer, C., … Parlak, E. (2026). Prognostic Significance of Cystic Biliary Dilatation in Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis. Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology, 37(6), 665–672. https://doi.org/10.5152/tjg.2026.26055
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