Biliary Conditions

The biliary system includes the liver, gall bladder, bile ducts and pancreas, and its combined functions both aid in digestion and help regulate blood sugar. When the pancreas becomes inflamed or a blockage occurs within a bile duct, a person may develop significant pain in the abdomen, shoulder and back. Types of biliary conditions include biliary tree cancer, primary biliary cholangitis, sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), biliary atresia (a rare disorder in infants), bile duct cancer, biliary strictures, acute cholecystitis, cholangitis and more. Diagnostic methods for these conditions can include blood tests, abdominal and endoscopic ultrasounds and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). ERCP is also used in combination with biliary sphincterotomy is one of the primary means of treating biliary conditions.