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Choledocholithiasis
Alternate Names : Bile Calculus, Bile Duct Stone, Biliary Calculus, Gallstone in the Bile Duct
Definition Choledocholithiasis is the presence of a gallstone in the common bile duct. The stone may consist of bile pigments and/or calcium and cholesterol salts that are formed in the biliary tract.
Pictures & Images
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Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
About 15% of people with gallstones will develop stones in the common bile duct, the small tube that carries bile from the gallbladder to the intestine. Symptoms are usually not present unless obstruction of the common bile duct occurs. Even after the gallbladder is removed, a stone may remain in the common bile duct causing episodic pain or jaundice.
Complete, persistent obstruction of the common bile duct can cause cholangitis, a serious infection of the biliary tree, which is a medical emergency. An obstruction of the common bile duct can also lead to an obstruction of the pancreatic duct, which may cause pancreatitis.
Risk factors include a previous medical history of cholelithiasis (gallstones). The incidence is 6 out of 100,000 people.
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Jump to another section
• Definition
• Choledocholithiasis Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
• Choledocholithiasis Symptoms & Signs
• Choledocholithiasis Diagnosis & Tests
• Choledocholithiasis Treatment
• Choledocholithiasis Prognosis
• Choledocholithiasis Complications
• Calling Your Health Care Provider
• Pictures & Images
Topics that might be of interest to you Diseases & Conditions
• Cholangitis
• Cholelithiasis
• Cirrhosis
• Pancreatitis
Tests & Exams
• Abdominal CT Scan
• Abdominal Ultrasound
• Bilirubin
• ERCP
• Liver Function Tests
• Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangiogram (PTCA)
Other Topics
• Abdominal Pain
• Bile
• Biliary System
• Endoscope
• Enzyme
• Fever
• Incidence
• Jaundice - Yellow Skin
• Nausea and Vomiting
Review Date : 12/29/2002
Reviewed By : Hebe Molmenti, M.D., Ph.D., Private Practice specializing in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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