BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuCholedocholithiasisGallstone in the bile duct; Bile duct stone; Common bile duct stoneCholedocholithiasis means there is at least one gallstone in the common bile duct. The stone may be made up of bile pigments or calcium and cholesterol salts and are called common bile duct stones.GallstoneGallstones are hard deposits that form inside the gallbladder. These may be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article BileBile is a fluid that is made and released by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. Bile helps with digestion. It breaks down fats into fatty acid...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes About 1 in 7 people with gallstones will develop stones in the common bile duct. This is the small tube that carries bile from the gallbladder to the intestine.Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersRisk factors include a history of gallstones. However, choledocholithiasis can occur in people who have had their gallbladder removed. Symptoms Often, there are no symptoms unless the stone blocks the common bile duct. Symptoms may include:Pain in the right upper or middle upper abdomen for at least 30 minutes. The pain may be constant and intense. It can be mild or severe. The pain may radiate to the back in the area of the right shoulder blade. Fever. FeverFever is the temporary increase in the body's temperature in response to a disease or illness. A child has a fever when the temperature is at or abov...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Yellowing of skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice). Loss of appetite. Nausea and vomiting. Nausea and vomitingNausea is feeling an urge to vomit. It is often called "being sick to your stomach. "Vomiting or throwing-up forces the contents of the stomach up t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Clay-colored stools.Clay-colored stoolsStools that are pale, clay, or putty-colored may be due to problems in the biliary system. The biliary system is the drainage system of the gallblad...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Exams and Tests Tests that show the location of stones in the bile duct include the following:Abdominal CT scan Abdominal CT scanAn abdominal CT scan is an imaging test that uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the belly area. CT stands for computed tomography....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Abdominal ultrasound Abdominal ultrasoundAbdominal ultrasound is a type of imaging test. It is used to look at organs in the abdomen, including the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and kidneys...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreat...ERCP is short for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. It is a procedure that looks at the bile and pancreatic ducts. It is done through...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Endoscopic ultrasound Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) -- this is the most accurate non-invasive test to look for a common bile duct stone Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram (PTC)Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogramA percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram (PTC) is an x-ray of the bile ducts. These are the tubes that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Your health care provider may order the following blood tests:Bilirubin BilirubinThe bilirubin blood test measures the level of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellowish pigment found in bile, a fluid made by the liver. Bi...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Complete blood count (CBC) Complete blood countA complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Liver function tests Liver function testsLiver function tests are common tests that are used to see how well the liver is working. Tests include:AlbuminAlpha-1 antitrypsinAlkaline phosphata...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Pancreatic enzymes (amylase or lipase)EnzymesEnzymes are complex proteins that cause a specific chemical change. For example, they can help break down the foods we eat so the body can use them....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment The goal of treatment is to relieve the blockage of the common bile duct.Treatment may involve:Surgery to remove the gallbladder and stones ERCP and a procedure called a sphincterotomy, which makes a surgical cut into the muscle in the common bile duct to allow stones to pass or be removed Outlook (Prognosis) Blockage and infection caused by stones in the biliary tract can be life threatening. Most of the time, the outcome is good if the problem is detected and treated early. Possible Complications Complications may include:Biliary cirrhosis CirrhosisCirrhosis is scarring of the liver and poor liver function. It is the last stage of chronic liver disease.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Cholangitis CholangitisCholangitis is an infection of the bile ducts, the tubes that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder and intestines. Bile is a liquid made by ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Pancreatitis When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if:You develop abdominal pain, with or without fever, and there is no known cause You develop jaundice You have other symptoms of choledocholithiasisOpen ReferencesReferencesFogel EL, Sherman S. Diseases of the gallbladder and bile ducts. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 141.Radkani P, Hawksworth J, Fishbein T. Biliary system. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 21st ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2022:chap 55.Wang D Q-H, Afdhal NH. Gallstone disease. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 65.AllVideoImagesTogDigestive system - illustration The esophagus, stomach, large and small intestine, aided by the liver, gallbladder and pancreas convert the nutritive components of food into energy and break down the non-nutritive components into waste to be excreted.Digestive systemillustrationKidney cyst with gallstones - CT scan - illustration A CT scan of the upper abdomen showing a fist-sized cyst of the left kidney and gallstones (the kidney cyst was found by chance; there were no symptoms).Kidney cyst with gallstones - CT scanillustrationCholedocholithiasis - illustration About 15% of people with gallstones will develop stones in the common bile duct. The common bile duct is a small tube that carries bile from the gallbladder to the duodenum. Obstruction of the common bile duct may also lead to obstruction of the pancreatic duct because these ducts are usually connected. If the pancreatic duct is also obstructed, pancreatitis will likely develop.CholedocholithiasisillustrationGallbladder - illustration The liver produces bile which aids in the digestion of fats. The bile travels through tiny canals which eventually drain through the common bile duct into the small intestine. The gallbladder stores excess bile that is not immediately needed for digestion.GallbladderillustrationGallbladder - illustration The gallbladder is a muscular sac located under the liver. It stores and concentrates the bile produced in the liver that is not immediately needed for digestion. Bile is released from the gallbladder into the small intestine in response to food. The pancreatic duct joins the common bile duct at the small intestine adding enzymes to aid in digestion.GallbladderillustrationBile pathway - illustration The biliary system is comprised of the organs and duct system that create, transport, store and release bile into the duodenum for digestion. Includes the liver, gallbladder and bile ducts (named the cystic, hepatic, common, and pancreatic duct).Bile pathwayillustrationDigestive system - illustration The esophagus, stomach, large and small intestine, aided by the liver, gallbladder and pancreas convert the nutritive components of food into energy and break down the non-nutritive components into waste to be excreted.Digestive systemillustrationKidney cyst with gallstones - CT scan - illustration A CT scan of the upper abdomen showing a fist-sized cyst of the left kidney and gallstones (the kidney cyst was found by chance; there were no symptoms).Kidney cyst with gallstones - CT scanillustrationCholedocholithiasis - illustration About 15% of people with gallstones will develop stones in the common bile duct. The common bile duct is a small tube that carries bile from the gallbladder to the duodenum. Obstruction of the common bile duct may also lead to obstruction of the pancreatic duct because these ducts are usually connected. If the pancreatic duct is also obstructed, pancreatitis will likely develop.CholedocholithiasisillustrationGallbladder - illustration The liver produces bile which aids in the digestion of fats. The bile travels through tiny canals which eventually drain through the common bile duct into the small intestine. The gallbladder stores excess bile that is not immediately needed for digestion.GallbladderillustrationGallbladder - illustration The gallbladder is a muscular sac located under the liver. It stores and concentrates the bile produced in the liver that is not immediately needed for digestion. Bile is released from the gallbladder into the small intestine in response to food. The pancreatic duct joins the common bile duct at the small intestine adding enzymes to aid in digestion.GallbladderillustrationBile pathway - illustration The biliary system is comprised of the organs and duct system that create, transport, store and release bile into the duodenum for digestion. Includes the liver, gallbladder and bile ducts (named the cystic, hepatic, common, and pancreatic duct).Bile pathwayillustrationRelated Information Bile(Special Topic)Biliary system(Special Topic)Gallstones(Condition)Cirrhosis(Condition)Cholangitis(Condition)Gallstones and gallbladder disease - InDepth(In-Depth)Cirrhosis - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 4/21/2025 Reviewed By: Todd Eisner, MD, Private practice specializing in Gastroenterology in Boca Raton and Delray Beach, Florida at Gastroenterology Consultants of Boca Raton. Affiliate Assistant Professor, Florida Atlantic University School of Medicine. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. 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CholedocholithiasisGallstone in the bile duct; Bile duct stone; Common bile duct stoneCholedocholithiasis means there is at least one gallstone in the common bile duct. The stone may be made up of bile pigments or calcium and cholesterol salts and are called common bile duct stones.GallstoneGallstones are hard deposits that form inside the gallbladder. These may be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article BileBile is a fluid that is made and released by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. Bile helps with digestion. It breaks down fats into fatty acid...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes About 1 in 7 people with gallstones will develop stones in the common bile duct. This is the small tube that carries bile from the gallbladder to the intestine.Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersRisk factors include a history of gallstones. However, choledocholithiasis can occur in people who have had their gallbladder removed. Symptoms Often, there are no symptoms unless the stone blocks the common bile duct. Symptoms may include:Pain in the right upper or middle upper abdomen for at least 30 minutes. The pain may be constant and intense. It can be mild or severe. The pain may radiate to the back in the area of the right shoulder blade. Fever. FeverFever is the temporary increase in the body's temperature in response to a disease or illness. A child has a fever when the temperature is at or abov...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Yellowing of skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice). Loss of appetite. Nausea and vomiting. Nausea and vomitingNausea is feeling an urge to vomit. It is often called "being sick to your stomach. "Vomiting or throwing-up forces the contents of the stomach up t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Clay-colored stools.Clay-colored stoolsStools that are pale, clay, or putty-colored may be due to problems in the biliary system. The biliary system is the drainage system of the gallblad...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Exams and Tests Tests that show the location of stones in the bile duct include the following:Abdominal CT scan Abdominal CT scanAn abdominal CT scan is an imaging test that uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the belly area. CT stands for computed tomography....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Abdominal ultrasound Abdominal ultrasoundAbdominal ultrasound is a type of imaging test. It is used to look at organs in the abdomen, including the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and kidneys...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreat...ERCP is short for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. It is a procedure that looks at the bile and pancreatic ducts. It is done through...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Endoscopic ultrasound Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) -- this is the most accurate non-invasive test to look for a common bile duct stone Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram (PTC)Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogramA percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram (PTC) is an x-ray of the bile ducts. These are the tubes that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Your health care provider may order the following blood tests:Bilirubin BilirubinThe bilirubin blood test measures the level of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellowish pigment found in bile, a fluid made by the liver. Bi...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Complete blood count (CBC) Complete blood countA complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Liver function tests Liver function testsLiver function tests are common tests that are used to see how well the liver is working. Tests include:AlbuminAlpha-1 antitrypsinAlkaline phosphata...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Pancreatic enzymes (amylase or lipase)EnzymesEnzymes are complex proteins that cause a specific chemical change. For example, they can help break down the foods we eat so the body can use them....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment The goal of treatment is to relieve the blockage of the common bile duct.Treatment may involve:Surgery to remove the gallbladder and stones ERCP and a procedure called a sphincterotomy, which makes a surgical cut into the muscle in the common bile duct to allow stones to pass or be removed Outlook (Prognosis) Blockage and infection caused by stones in the biliary tract can be life threatening. Most of the time, the outcome is good if the problem is detected and treated early. Possible Complications Complications may include:Biliary cirrhosis CirrhosisCirrhosis is scarring of the liver and poor liver function. It is the last stage of chronic liver disease.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Cholangitis CholangitisCholangitis is an infection of the bile ducts, the tubes that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder and intestines. Bile is a liquid made by ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Pancreatitis When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if:You develop abdominal pain, with or without fever, and there is no known cause You develop jaundice You have other symptoms of choledocholithiasisOpen ReferencesReferencesFogel EL, Sherman S. Diseases of the gallbladder and bile ducts. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 141.Radkani P, Hawksworth J, Fishbein T. Biliary system. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 21st ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2022:chap 55.Wang D Q-H, Afdhal NH. Gallstone disease. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 65.
