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HCV What is the significance of dilation of the common bile duct?
I've looked all over the internet trying to find the answer to this question. Then I remembered all of the experts here! My ultrasound in December said "The common bile duct is again noted to be mildly dilated up to 7.8mm in diameter ... then MRCP or ERCP could be performed." So "again" must mean that finding has been on a previous ultrasound that I missed when reading it. Translations would be welcome! :)
I had the diagnosis of dilated common duct about 8 yrs. ago. My PCP didn't follow up on it. Said that it's usually an indication of stones but that my ultrasound didn't show any. However, the following year the annual ultrasound showed a huge HCC that had metastasized to the inferior vena cava. I have to wonder if the dilated duct was connected in some way.
What does your hepatologist or gastroenterologist say about you having a dilated common bile duct?
Are they trying to diagnose the cause>
You are experiencing symptoms of biliary disease?
Jaundice, biliary pain or fever? Did they find a biliary lesion?
A dilated (> 7 mm) biliary tree can sometimes indicate a biliary obstruction. IE lesion.
(MRCP) magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography is usually used to help diagnosis the biliary issue.
ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is a technique that combines the use of endoscopy and fluoroscopy to diagnose and more often treat certain problems of the biliary or pancreatic ductal systems. Through the endoscope, the physician can see the inside of the stomach and duodenum, and inject dyes into the ducts in the biliary tree and pancreas so they can be seen on X-rays.
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"Dilated bile ducts
Bile ducts from the liver and the gallbladder join together to form the common bile duct. This duct drains into the small bowel and delivers bile to this portion of the small bowel known as the duodenum. Bile helps in the breakdown of undigested food and also gives color to bowel motions. Whenever a blockage occurs in the bile duct, the bile ducts become enlarged or dilated. An individual may first notice a pale color to the bowel motions and a darkening of the urine, if the blockage or obstruction progresses, a yellow discoloration to the eyes and skin (jaundice) may occur.
Obstruction of the bile duct can occur for several reasons and always warrants further investigation. Common causes include gallstones that become dislodged from the gallbladder and travel down the bile duct to the point at which it drains into the duodenum. This is the narrowest part of the bile duct and gallstones can become blocked or impacted at this point. This area is also the site at which the pancreas drains into the duodenum. A blockage caused by a gallstone is usually painful, may occur with fevers and can also be associated with inflammation of
the pancreas (pancreatitis). Less commonly, obstruction of the bile ducts maybe secondary to a tumor of the bile duct, known as a cholangiocarcinoma, or a tumor of the head of pancreas. This type of bile duct obstruction is usually painless but maybe associated with weight loss.
The majority of individuals with dilated bile ducts require an ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatiogram). This test maybe done as a day case, is carried out under heavy sedation, and involves the injection of dye from the small bowel into the bile duct. During this test, stones can be removed from the bile duct, tumors can be biopsied and the obstruction can be relieved. Alternatively, an MRCP (MRI scan of the bile ducts) can further determine the cause of dilated bile ducts but is of diagnostic value only.
A slightly dilated common bile duct maybe seen in individuals who have had a cholecystectomy in the past and does not warrant further investigation. All other cases of dilated bile ducts require referral to a gastroenterologist who specializes in the technique of ERCP."
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Best of luck!
Hector
Are they trying to diagnose the cause>
You are experiencing symptoms of biliary disease?
Jaundice, biliary pain or fever? Did they find a biliary lesion?
A dilated (> 7 mm) biliary tree can sometimes indicate a biliary obstruction. IE lesion.
(MRCP) magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography is usually used to help diagnosis the biliary issue.
ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is a technique that combines the use of endoscopy and fluoroscopy to diagnose and more often treat certain problems of the biliary or pancreatic ductal systems. Through the endoscope, the physician can see the inside of the stomach and duodenum, and inject dyes into the ducts in the biliary tree and pancreas so they can be seen on X-rays.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Dilated bile ducts
Bile ducts from the liver and the gallbladder join together to form the common bile duct. This duct drains into the small bowel and delivers bile to this portion of the small bowel known as the duodenum. Bile helps in the breakdown of undigested food and also gives color to bowel motions. Whenever a blockage occurs in the bile duct, the bile ducts become enlarged or dilated. An individual may first notice a pale color to the bowel motions and a darkening of the urine, if the blockage or obstruction progresses, a yellow discoloration to the eyes and skin (jaundice) may occur.
Obstruction of the bile duct can occur for several reasons and always warrants further investigation. Common causes include gallstones that become dislodged from the gallbladder and travel down the bile duct to the point at which it drains into the duodenum. This is the narrowest part of the bile duct and gallstones can become blocked or impacted at this point. This area is also the site at which the pancreas drains into the duodenum. A blockage caused by a gallstone is usually painful, may occur with fevers and can also be associated with inflammation of
the pancreas (pancreatitis). Less commonly, obstruction of the bile ducts maybe secondary to a tumor of the bile duct, known as a cholangiocarcinoma, or a tumor of the head of pancreas. This type of bile duct obstruction is usually painless but maybe associated with weight loss.
The majority of individuals with dilated bile ducts require an ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatiogram). This test maybe done as a day case, is carried out under heavy sedation, and involves the injection of dye from the small bowel into the bile duct. During this test, stones can be removed from the bile duct, tumors can be biopsied and the obstruction can be relieved. Alternatively, an MRCP (MRI scan of the bile ducts) can further determine the cause of dilated bile ducts but is of diagnostic value only.
A slightly dilated common bile duct maybe seen in individuals who have had a cholecystectomy in the past and does not warrant further investigation. All other cases of dilated bile ducts require referral to a gastroenterologist who specializes in the technique of ERCP."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Best of luck!
Hector
I was going to post earlier and just say Chris, Friday night is the worst time to ask a real serious question... The smarties will be around but mostly, you have us .. Clowns.
They will post but DS and OH some of the smarties...hang in there.
They will post but DS and OH some of the smarties...hang in there.
Okay, I'm no expert but I did have an ERCP for bile duct issues.
It was a simple outpatient procedure. I was knocked out for about 20minutes and someone had to drive me home.
The only side effect is a slight sore throat.
It was a simple outpatient procedure. I was knocked out for about 20minutes and someone had to drive me home.
The only side effect is a slight sore throat.
All the experts must be asleep. Plugging 'mrcp ercp' into my search engine got about 30,000 results. MRCP appears to be a magnetic resonance method of diagnosing problems of the pancreas and bile system and ERCP an endoscopic method of doing the same.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12079266
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12079266
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