Common Bile Duct

The duct that carries bile from the junction of the common hepatic and cystic ducts down behind the duodenum, through the head of the pancreas, to the duodenum.

The common bile duct carries bile from the liver and gallbladder into the duodenum.

In liver SBRT, and for tumors near the porta hepatis or pancreatic head, high dose to the duct can cause stricture and biliary obstruction. SBRT sources limit a small-volume maximum.

Jabbour 2014:

• The common bile duct (usually 8–10 cm long and 5–6 mm wide) is formed by the cystic duct from the gallbladder and the common hepatic duct.
• Top: the contour starts at the first bifurcation, or where the duct enters the portal triad.
• It runs down behind and medial to the duodenum, joins the pancreatic duct, and drains into the second part of the duodenum at the ampulla of Vater. The consensus contour was extended down to the level of the second part of the duodenum.

Agreement between experts was only moderate for this structure in the consensus work, so take care with it.