Blockage of the pancreatic duct. The pancreatic duct is a tube that runs from the pancreas and connects to the common bile duct just before entering the duodenum. Pancreatic juices, which aid in digestion, flow through the pancreatic duct. A gallstone can cause a blockage in the pancreatic duct, which can lead to inflammation of the pancreas pancreatitis. Pancreatitis causes intense, constant abdominal pain and usually requires hospitalization.
Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Gallstones Open pop-up dialog box Close. Gallstones Gallstones are hardened deposits of bile that can form in your gallbladder. Email address. First Name let us know your preferred name.
This pain is called a gallbladder attack, or biliary colic. Cholesterol stones are usually yellow-green in color and are made of mostly hardened cholesterol. In some countries, cholesterol stones make up about 75 percent of gallstones. Pigment stones are dark in color and are made of bilirubin. Some people have a mix of both kinds of stones. Your biliary tract, which is made up of your gallbladder and bile ducts, helps with digestion by releasing bile.
The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ that stores bile and is located in your upper right abdomen, below your liver. The bile ducts of your biliary tract include the hepatic ducts, common bile duct , and cystic duct. Bile ducts also carry waste and digestive juices from the liver and pancreas to the duodenum. Your liver produces bile, which is mostly made of cholesterol, bile salts, and bilirubin.
This procedure, known as a laparoscopic cholecystectomy , is relatively simple to perform and has a low risk of complications. Your liver will still produce bile to digest food, but the bile will drip continuously into the small intestine, rather than build up in the gallbladder. Very severe cases can be life threatening, particularly in people who are already in poor health.
Page last reviewed: 10 October Next review due: 10 October Information: Coronavirus advice Get advice about coronavirus and liver disease from the British Liver Trust. Video: gallstones In this video, a doctor explains what gallstones are, the symptoms and the treatment options. If there are complications from gallstones, the tests will be abnormal.
Gallstones, especially those that are asymptomatic, are often discovered accidentally during an imaging scan for another problem. If you need an imaging scan based on your history and physical exam, there are a number of procedures available. Imaging scans use different technologies to determine the presence and location of gallstones. An endoscope is a thin, flexible, lighted tube inserted into your mouth.
It reaches your esophagus, stomach and small intestine. Using the endoscope, you doctor can visualize your biliary system. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography ERCP is the preferred method for detecting gallstones in the common bile duct.
Because the endoscope is in position, stones can be removed during an ERCP. During this procedure:. Endoscopic ultrasound EUS uses both an endoscopy and an ultrasound to evaluate and diagnose digestive tract disorders, and together they produce detailed images of your bile duct and gallbladder. However, it is an accurate diagnostic tool and presents a lower risk of complications than ERCP.
There are a number of different treatment options for patients with symptomatic gallstones. Each treatment option has different outcomes, depending on your symptoms.
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