Hepatobiliary triangle

Infobox Anatomy
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Caption = The cystic artery branches from the hepatic artery proper.


Caption2 = Relationship to other vessels.
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The hepatobiliary triangle (or cystohepatic triangle) is an anatomic space bordered by the common hepatic duct medially, the cystic duct inferiorly and the liver superiorly. The cystic artery normally passes through the triangle; this anatomic feature is important during laparoscopic cholecystectomies [Balija M, Huis M, Nikolic V, Stulhofer M. Laparoscopic visualization of the cystic artery anatomy. World J Surg. 1999 Jul;23(7):703-7. PMID 10390590] .

Eponym

Another name used to refer to this region is Calot's Triangle. It is named for Jean-François Calot. [WhoNamedIt|synd|4023] [J. F. Calot. De la cholécystectomie. Doctoral thesis, Paris, 1891.] Of note, Calot's original description of the triangle in 1891 included the cystic duct, the common hepatic duct, and the cystic artery (not the inferior border of the liver as is commonly believed).cite journal |author=Haubrich WS |title=Calot of the triangle of Calot |journal=Gastroenterology |volume=123 |issue=5 |pages=1440 |year=2002 |pmid=12404217 |doi= |url=http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0016508502003256]

Clinical significance

General surgeons frequently quiz medical students on this term and the name for the lymph node located within the triangle, Calot's node. The latter is frequently enlarged due to inflammation of the gallbladder (e.g. cholecystitis) or the biliary tract (e.g. cholangitis) and is removed along with the gallbladder during surgical treatment (cholecystectomy).

References