Question

My newborn is one month old and had an ultrasound examination, which led to a diagnosis of congenital biliary atresia. I would like to inquire whether the ultrasound examination can confirm whether the child has congenital biliary atresia?

Answer

Congenital biliary atresia is one of the important digestive system diseases in infancy, commonly found in full-term deliveries. Initially, it may not present with obvious symptoms, and jaundice usually appears 2 to 3 weeks after birth. During pregnancy, system ultrasound examinations often fail to detect congenital biliary atresia. After birth, ultrasound examinations can help diagnose suspected cases, but not all cases can be confirmed during the neonatal period. Sometimes further tests, such as liver function tests, abdominal X-rays, or more specialized imaging examinations like magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), are needed to confirm the diagnosis. Once diagnosed, surgical treatment is usually required to prevent liver damage and potential liver transplantation.