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Biliary stricture - Overview

Alternative Names

Bile duct stricture

Definition of Biliary stricture:

A biliary stricture is an abnormal narrowing of the common bile duct, the tube that moves bile (a substance that helps with digestion) from the liver to the small intestine.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

A biliary stricture is often caused by surgical injury to the bile ducts. For example, it may occur after surgery to remove the gallbladder.

Other causes of this condition include:

Cancer of the bile duct
Damage and scarring due to a gallstone in the bile duct
Pancreatitis
Primary sclerosing cholangitis

Risk factors include previous biliary surgery, pancreatitis, gallstones, or injury to the intestine.

Bile pathway

Reviewed last on: 9/20/2008
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Ostroff JW, LaBerge JM. Endoscopic and radiologic treatment of biliary disease. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Sleisenger MH, eds. Sleisenger & Fordtran’s Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2006:chap 67.

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