Choledochal cysts in Omani children: A case series

Background and study aims: Choledochal cysts (CCs) are rare congenital anomalies of the biliary tract with a low incidence in the western countries and a higher incidence in the eastern part of the world. CCs have female to male preponderance. CCs type distribution is known in certain parts of the world but very little is published about the common types of CCs and gender distribution in the Arab countries. We aim to describe the CC types and gender distribution in Omani children in one centre. Patients and methods: A retrospective review of all children diagnosed to have choledochal cysts over a 2. year period at a tertiary hospital in Oman. Results: We diagnosed six children with CCs. The type distribution of CCs and gender preponderance in Omani children are not similar to what is described internationally. Type IV A was the most common type (50%) and less of type I (16.7%), unlike worldwide distribution. Female to male preponderance described in the literature is not seen in our case series. Fifty percent of our patients were boys. In this case series, we compare our results to the described case reports of CCs from Arab countries and Africa and bring up the difference. Conclusions: We demonstrate the unusual types of CCs and gender distribution in Omani children compared to the literature. To our best knowledge, this is the first case series of CCs in Omani children and the largest reported study in the literature in the Arab countries so far.