Obstructive jaundice caused by metastatic lymph node of Colon Cancer

Abstract

Obstructive jaundice poses an important clinical challenge in diagnosis due to asymptomatic signs early in their course. Proper imaging studies should be obtained immediately to make an early diagnosis to prevent further complications and prolonged hospitalization. We report an unusual case of silent colon cancer presenting with obstructive jaundice mimicking acute cholangitis due to lymph node metastasis by external compressing the common bile duct. Abdominal computed tomographic scan (CT) is efficient to make an early diagnosis, although there is still controversy about the benefit of performing an early abdominal CT in patients with acute abdomen. With surgical intervention exploratory laparotomy with right hemi-colectomy and lymph node dissection, the patient was discharged with normal total bilirubin level on the postoperative day 10.