Symptoms & Signs
- Abdominal pain in the upper right side
- Dark urine
- Fever
- Itching
- Jaundice (yellow skin color)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Pale-colored stools
Diagnosis & Tests
Your health care provider will examine your abdomen and may be able to feel the gallbladder.
The following blood test results could be a sign of a possible blockage:
- Increased bilirubin level
- Increased alkaline phosphatase level
- Increased liver enzymes
The following tests may be used to investigate a possible blocked bile duct:
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Abdominal CT scan
- ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography)
- Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram (PTCA)
- Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP)
A blocked bile duct may also alter the results of the following tests:
- Amylase blood test
- Gallbladder radionuclide scan
- Urine bilirubin
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Bile duct obstruction : Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
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Bile duct obstruction : Symptoms & Signs, Diagnosis & Tests
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Bile duct obstruction : Treatment
Review Date : 9/20/2008
Reviewed By : 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.
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