Choledocholithiasis

Alternative names:

bile calculus; bile duct stone; biliary calculus; gallstone in the bile duct

Symptoms:

• abdominal pain in the upper right quadrant or the middle of the upper abdomen
  • may radiate to the right shoulder
  • may be sharp or cramping or dull
  • may be recurrent
  • may radiate to the back
  • made worse by fatty or greasy foods
  • occurs within minutes following meals

• nausea
• vomiting
• fever
• jaundice
• appetite, loss

Signs and tests:

Tests that show location of stones in the bile duct include:

• percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram (PTCA)
• ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiography)
• abdominal CT scan
• abdominal ultrasound

Other blood tests that may be affected include:

• bilirubin level, elevated
• liver function tests, with elevated enzyme levels