Bile is produced in the liver and transported into the duodenum through the bile duct.. Some amount of this bile is stored in the gallbladder for some time,to be also released when there is intake of food. if the gallbladder is not working properly it does not empty with each contraction. There is precipitation and small stones start to form in the gallbladder. In due course of time the stones grow larger in size and in some patients the stones cause problems to the patients. some of these stones may pass into the bile duct, where they cause infection or obstruction to the bile flow. almost all of the bile duct stones will give rise to some symptoms,while only some patients of gallbladder stones will cause symptoms.
Bile is greenish yellow sticky, thick fluid produced in the liver. Bile helps in digestion of fat and makes it easy to absorb fat-soluble vitamins, cholesterol from the small intestine. It also assists to eliminate waste products of liver metabolism such as drugs, bilirubin and excess cholesterol from the body.
Biliary ducts are series of tiny tubes that carry bile from the originating organ-ie the liver and finally to the duodenum (small intestine). Bile is stored in a small pear-shaped sac called gallbladder located just under the liver and connected by the biliary duct.
Symptoms are varying on the cause of the disorder. Patients with bile duct disorder usually have:
Some common causes of bile duct disorder are as follows:
Treatment is aimed to rectify the underlying causes. The primary objective of any medical or surgical support is to alleviate the cause of disease. Many disorders of the biliary system are treated medically, But certain problems like stones, choledochal cyst or tumours need surgery. Some of the common treatments modalities are:
Unfortunately the bileduct cancers carry a poor prognosis and surgery is the only modality of treatment available. these tumours are usually resistant to radiotherapy and chemotherapy.