Gallbladder & Bile Ducts

The gallbladder stores bile, while the bile ducts are the small tubes that carry it from the liver to the intestine. Conditions in this area range from common benign problems such as gallstones to strictures, cysts, and tumors that need specialist investigation. Assessment combines symptoms, blood tests, and the right imaging study.

Gallstones and biliary colic
What happens: Gallstones are solid particles that form in the gallbladder. Many people never develop symptoms. When a stone temporarily blocks the flow of bile, it can cause a painful episode called biliary colic.
Risk factors: Age, pregnancy, higher body weight, rapid weight loss, diabetes, some medicines, and family history can increase the likelihood of gallstones.
Symptoms: Pain in the upper right abdomen or upper middle abdomen, often after food, sometimes with nausea or vomiting. Fever, persistent pain, jaundice, dark urine, or pale stools need urgent medical assessment.
Diagnosis and treatment: Ultrasound is usually the first test. When stones cause repeated symptoms or complications, keyhole removal of the gallbladder is often the definitive treatment.

Acute cholecystitis
What happens: Acute cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder, most often because a stone blocks the cystic duct. Pain commonly persists and may be associated with fever and abdominal tenderness.
Assessment: Clinical examination, blood tests, and ultrasound are central. CT or other imaging may be needed in selected situations.
Treatment: Hospital treatment may include fluids, pain relief, and antibiotics where indicated. The timing of surgery is individualized according to the severity of the episode, overall health, and imaging findings.

Common bile duct stones and cholangitis
A stone can move from the gallbladder into the main bile duct. This may cause obstruction, jaundice, or pancreatitis. When the bile ducts become infected, cholangitis is an emergency: fever or chills together with jaundice and pain require urgent assessment.
Liver blood tests, ultrasound, MRCP, CT, and endoscopic ultrasound are chosen according to the situation. ERCP can remove a stone or drain the bile duct when there is an obstruction.

Gallbladder polyps
Polyps are small growths on the inner surface of the gallbladder and are often found incidentally. Most are benign. Their size, shape, change over time, symptoms, and individual risk factors guide the decision between surveillance and gallbladder removal.

Bile duct strictures, cysts, and tumors
A narrowing of a bile duct may be benign, inflammatory, or require evaluation for cancer. Unexplained jaundice, itch, weight loss, worsening fatigue, or abnormal liver tests should be assessed in an organized way. CT, MRI/MRCP, endoscopic ultrasound, and ERCP can help define the problem. Where cancer is suspected, assessment is planned through a specialist multidisciplinary team.

How assessment is organized
The aim is to identify the cause of symptoms, confirm or exclude obstruction or infection, and select the safest management plan. Please bring previous scans, reports, a medication list, and allergy information to your appointment. This page provides general information and does not replace a personal medical assessment.