Hepatobiliary Disease Treatment in Sugar Land, Texas

Comprehensive Care for the Liver, Gallbladder, and Bile Ducts

Hepatobiliary disease includes disorders affecting the liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts. These conditions range from fatty liver disease and gallstones to bile duct obstruction, cirrhosis, hepatitis, and cancer. Symptoms such as jaundice, upper-right abdominal pain, dark urine, pale stools, itching, or unexplained liver-test abnormalities should be properly evaluated.

Dr. Gregory L. Shannon is a board-certified gastroenterologist serving patients in Sugar Land, Texas. He provides comprehensive evaluation, personalized treatment, and ongoing monitoring for hepatobiliary disorders and related digestive conditions. Contact Dr. Shannon’s office for an appointment today!

What is Hepatobiliary Disease?

Hepatobiliary disease is any disorder of the hepatobiliary system that impairs its normal function. The disease can range from minor infection or scarring to serious conditions such as cancer. The organs of the hepatobiliary system are the liver, gallbladder and bile ducts.

The liver is one of the largest organs of the human body and is situated in the upper right portion of your abdomen. It performs some of the body’s vital functions including:

• Production of bile juice
• Storing sugars in the form of glycogen
• Purifying blood from harmful substances
• Making proteins that help in blood clotting

The gallbladder is a small organ below the liver that stores a fluid called bile, necessary for fat digestion. The bile duct carries bile from the gallbladder to the small intestine.

Risk Factors

The common risk factors that can cause hepatobiliary disease include:

• Advanced age
• Stress
• Smoking
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Hormonal pills
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Autoimmune diseases
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Exposure to chemicals or toxins
• Exposure to infected blood (hepatitis infected person) by the sharing of contaminated needles, razors or blood transfusions
• Genetic diseases such as Wilson’s disease, Hemochromatosis, and Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency

Types of Hepatobiliary Disease

Choledocholithiasis

Choledocholithiasis is the presence of gallstones in the bile duct, causing obstruction. Gallstones can occur in the gallbladder and migrate to the bile duct, or they can form in the bile duct itself.

Gallstones are usually composed of cholesterol or bile pigments. Lesser-known gallstones are made up of cholesterol and calcium salts. Cholesterol stones or pigment stones may be formed due to excess secretion of bilirubin (an orange-yellow pigment) or cholesterol, low secretion of bile salts or the presence of an infection.

Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis

Primary sclerosing cholangitis is a liver disease that causes narrowing of the bile duct. As the disease slowly progresses, bile builds up in the liver, damaging the cells. Scar tissue can spread throughout the liver, causing cirrhosis and liver failure. The cause of primary sclerosing cholangitis is unknown but is associated with inflammatory diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease.

Liver Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is severe scarring of the liver and poor liver function due to excessive exposure to alcohol or due to a viral infection. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), people who regularly consume alcohol for more than 10 years can develop cirrhosis. Excess scar tissue is formed when your liver is exposed to damaging factors for a long period of time, making it difficult to repair itself. A cirrhotic liver appears hard and shrunken.

Autoimmune Liver Diseases

The immune system protects the body by attacking and destroying foreign and harmful substances. However, in autoimmune liver diseases, the body’s immune system attacks its own liver (liver cells and bile duct cells), causing inflammation and liver damage. For example, autoimmune hepatitis.

Untreated autoimmune liver disease can progress into cirrhosis, liver failure, and cancer.

Fatty Liver Disease

Fatty liver disease is a condition caused by excess fat buildup in the liver cells. It is most common in middle-aged people. Fatty liver disease is also called hepatic steatosis. Fatty liver is of two types:

• Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver: Buildup of fat in the liver is not associated with the consumption of alcohol.
• Alcoholic Fatty Liver: Buildup of fat in the liver is associated with excess alcohol consumption.

Simple fatty liver is an early stage of fatty liver disease and often not serious. Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) is an advanced stage that causes inflammation of the liver and damage to liver cells causing liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, ascites, and ultimately, liver failure.

Biliary Dyskinesia

Biliary dyskinesia or gallbladder dyskinesia is a motility disorder of the biliary system in which the bile does not drain out well from the gallbladder. Bile is a dark green to yellowish-brown fluid, secreted by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. A muscular valve called the sphincter of Oddi controls the movement of bile from the gallbladder (through the bile duct) to the small intestine. A metabolic disorder of the gallbladder or dysfunction of the sphincter of Oddi may disrupt the normal movement of bile causing it to backflow into the gallbladder.

Portal Hypertension

Liver damage such as cirrhosis can cause high blood pressure within the portal venous system. Veins coming from the spleen, intestine, stomach, and pancreas merge to form a large vein called the portal vein that further branches as it travels through the liver. Increase in the blood pressure causes the veins to swell (varices), rupture and bleed.

Jaundice

Jaundice is a condition that occurs when bilirubin, a yellow pigment produced by the breakdown of red blood cells in the liver, accumulates in the liver. It is characterized by yellowing of the skin and sclera, the white regions of the eyes, and is caused by a viral infection, blocked bile ducts, liver diseases or certain medications.

Hepatitis

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver tissue. Exposure to alcohol, toxins or drugs over a long period of time may result in hepatitis. It may also occur due to an autoimmune response in which antibodies (proteins) produced by your immune system damage your liver tissue, but most often, it is caused by a viral infection.

Gallbladder Cancer

Gallbladder cancer is a rare disease that occurs when healthy cells acquire changes (mutations in their DNA) that make them divide uncontrollably and form a tumor. Cancer usually arises in the inner layers of the gallbladder and migrates to the nearby healthy tissues. It has 4 stages:

• Stage I: Cancerous cells are confined to inner layers
• Stage II: Tumor has invaded to the outer layers
• Stage III: Cancer has spread to nearby organs and lymph nodes
• Stage IV: Cancer has begun to spread to the distant organs of the body

Liver and Bile Duct Cancer

Liver cancer may begin as a mass of abnormal cells called a tumor. Benign tumors remain localized and do not spread to neighboring tissues. Malignant tumors begin to spread into nearby tissues, lymph nodes or organs, disrupting their function. Most liver cancers are malignant and may lead to liver failure. Cholangiocarcinoma is cancer that begins with the connective tissue of the bile duct.

Liver Failure

Liver failure occurs when a significant portion of your liver is non-functional and cannot be repaired. Various untreated liver diseases may lead to liver failure and cause secondary complications such as cerebral edema, problems related to blood clotting and kidney failure. Most often, a liver transplant is the only option and is usually successful.

Symptoms

The symptoms vary depending on the type of hepatobiliary disease. Common symptoms include:

• Yellow skin and eyes
• Dark urine
• Clay-colored stools
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Swelling of abdomen and legs
• Fatigue
• Itchy skin
• Blood clotting problems

Diagnosis

Your doctor will assess your symptoms and may order:

• Liver Function Test: Determines the health of your liver, gallbladder and bile ducts.
• Cholecystokinin Hepatobiliary (CCK-HIDA) Scan: A small amount of radioactive dye and enzyme cholecystokinin is injected followed by a fatty meal. A nuclear medicine camera helps your doctor see how well bile is secreted from your gallbladder.
• Imaging Tests: Images of your liver, gallbladder and bile duct are obtained by performing an X-ray, CT scan or MRI.
• Transabdominal Ultrasound (TUS): Use of ultrasound to view the gallbladder or liver.
• Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiography (ERCP): An endoscope is inserted into your mouth and advanced towards the stomach and duodenum (first part of your small intestine). A dye is injected and X-ray images are taken to study your bile ducts.
• Biopsy: A small piece of suspected tissue is obtained and observed under the microscope for the presence of cancerous cells.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the underlying cause and may include:

• Quitting smoking and alcohol consumption
• Diet modification usually involves a decrease in salt intake
• Weight loss program (obese people)
• Lithotripsy to manage gallbladder stones
• Medications to treat viral infection and other symptoms
• Medications to control autoimmunity
• Management of stress and diabetes
• Liver transplant in severe cases

Prevention

Liver disease can be prevented by:

• Vaccination
• Controlling diabetes
• Eating healthy
• Drinking alcohol in moderation
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Avoiding contact with an infected person
• Preventing exposure to toxic chemicals

Why Choose Dr. Gregory L. Shannon for Hepatobiliary Disease?

Coordinated Care for Liver and Biliary Health

Hepatobiliary symptoms can result from inflammation, infection, metabolic disease, gallstones, bile duct obstruction, medication effects, autoimmune disorders, or inherited conditions. Dr. Gregory L. Shannon provides individualized gastroenterology care to identify the possible cause and determine an appropriate management plan.

His approach begins with reviewing your symptoms, medical history, medications, alcohol use, family history, and metabolic risk factors. Laboratory testing, imaging, or an endoscopic procedure may be recommended to evaluate the liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts.

Patients Can Expect:

• Evaluation of abnormal liver tests and hepatobiliary symptoms
• Assessment of liver, gallbladder, and bile duct conditions
• Blood tests and diagnostic imaging when appropriate
• Evaluation of gallstones and bile duct obstruction
• Endoscopic testing or treatment when medically indicated
• Monitoring for liver inflammation, fibrosis, and cirrhosis
• Personalized recommendations based on the underlying diagnosis
• Coordination with surgeons, hepatologists, oncologists, or transplant specialists when necessary

Hepatobiliary Disease – FAQs

What does the hepatobiliary system include?

The hepatobiliary system consists of the liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts. The liver produces bile, the gallbladder stores and concentrates it, and the bile ducts carry it into the small intestine to help digest fats.

What are the common symptoms of hepatobiliary disease?

Symptoms may include pain in the upper-right abdomen, nausea, vomiting, jaundice, dark urine, pale or clay-colored stools, itching, fatigue, reduced appetite, or swelling of the abdomen and legs. Some conditions cause no symptoms and are discovered through abnormal blood tests or imaging.

What conditions affect the hepatobiliary system?

Examples include fatty liver disease, viral or autoimmune hepatitis, cirrhosis, gallstones, bile duct stones, gallbladder inflammation, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and biliary dyskinesia. Liver, gallbladder, and bile duct cancers also affect this system.

How is hepatobiliary disease diagnosed?

Evaluation may include liver blood tests, an abdominal ultrasound, CT scan, MRI or MRCP, HIDA scan, endoscopic ultrasound, or ERCP. A liver biopsy or tissue sampling may be recommended in selected cases.

What is a bile duct obstruction?

A bile duct obstruction prevents bile from flowing normally from the liver and gallbladder into the small intestine. Possible causes include gallstones, inflammation, scarring, pancreatitis, or tumors. Symptoms may include jaundice, dark urine, pale stools, itching, fever, or abdominal pain.

What is ERCP, and when is it used?

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, or ERCP, is primarily a treatment procedure for problems involving the bile or pancreatic ducts. It may be used to remove bile duct stones, open a narrowed duct, place a stent, or collect tissue samples.

Can hepatobiliary disease be treated without surgery?

Some conditions can be managed with medication, lifestyle changes, weight management, alcohol avoidance, or monitoring. Others may require an endoscopic procedure or surgery. Treatment depends on the affected organ, underlying cause, severity, and presence of complications.

Can hepatobiliary disease be prevented?

Not every condition is preventable. Risk may be reduced by maintaining a healthy weight, managing diabetes and cholesterol, limiting or avoiding alcohol as advised, receiving recommended hepatitis vaccinations, using medications safely, and avoiding exposure to infected blood and toxic chemicals.

When is hepatobiliary disease an emergency?

Seek immediate medical attention for jaundice accompanied by fever or chills, severe or persistent upper abdominal pain, confusion, fainting, vomiting blood, black stools, persistent vomiting, or rapidly increasing abdominal swelling. These symptoms may indicate bile duct infection, acute liver failure, internal bleeding, or another serious complication.

Take the Next Step in Protecting Your Hepatobiliary Health

Evaluation, Treatment & Coordinated Gastroenterology Care

Whether you have abnormal liver tests, jaundice, recurring upper abdominal pain, suspected gallstones, or concerns involving the liver or bile ducts, Dr. Shannon can provide a comprehensive evaluation and personalized care plan. Contact his office in Sugar Land, Texas, for an appointment today.