As bile is a fluid produced by the liver that aids digestion, biliary disease affects the bile ducts, gallbladder, and other structures involved in the production and transportation of bile.
Bile drains from the liver through bile ducts to the first part of the small intestine, or duodenum, and back to the bile ducts and liver. If the ducts become diseased or blocked, a number of serious diseases may result.
Risk Factors
Certain factors may increase the risk of biliary disease, including: heredity, increasing age, obesity, a high-fat diet, certain gastrointestinal conditions and certain prescription medications.
Symptoms of Possible Biliary Disease
Symptoms common to many of the disorders include:
Abdominal pain, especially in the upper right side of the abdomen under the rib cage
Nausea or vomiting
Loss of appetite, or weight loss
Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)
Fatigue
Fever/chills
Itching
Light brown urine
Greasy or clay-colored stools
Detection and Diagnosis
Tests commonly performed to diagnose many bile duct disorders may include:
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