Penny Chapter 4 - Definitions

Acute Pancreatitis

inflammation of the pancreas secondary to the leakage of pancreatic enzymes from the acinar cells into the parenchyma of the organ

Ampulla of Vater

the merging point of the pancreatic duct and common bile duct just before the sphincter of oddi; also referred to as the hepatopancreatic ampulla

Ascariasis

an infection of the small intestine that is caused by ascaris lumbridoides - a parasitic roundworm

Biliary Atresia

a congenital diease described as the narrowing or obliteration of all or a portion of the biliary tree

Biliary Colic

pain secondary to a blockage of the biliary tree

Biliary Stasis

a condition in which bile is stagnant and allowed to develop into sludge or stones

Bilirubin

a yellowish pigment found in bile that is produced by the breakdown of old red blood cells by the liver

Biliverdin

a green pigment found in the bile

Caroli Disease

a congenital disorder characterized by segmental dilation of the intrahepatic ducts

Central Dot Sign

the presence of echogenic dots in the non-dependent part of the dilated duct representing small fibrovascular bundles; seen with caroli disease

Charcot triad

fever; right upper quadrant, and jaundice associated with cholangitis

Cholangiocarcioma

primary bile duct cancer

Cholangiography

a radiographic procedure in which contrast is injected into the bile ducts to assess for the presence of disease

Cholangitis

inflammation of the bile ducts

Chronic Pancreatitis

the recurring destruction of the pancreatic tissue that results in atrophy, fibrosis, scarring, and the development of calcifications within the gland

Double Duct Sign

coexsisting dilation of the common bile duct and pancreatic duct

Endoscopic retrograde Cholangiopancreatography

endoscopic procedure that utilizes fluoroscopy to evaluate the biliary tree and pancreas

Hepatopancreatic Ampulla

the level of the biliary tree where the common bile duct and the main pancreatic duct meet; may also be referred to as the ampulla of Vater

Hepatopancreatic sphincter

the muscle that controls the emptying of the bile and pancreatic juices into the duodenum; may also be referred to as the sphincter of oddi

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

chronic inflammation of all or part of the bowel

Klatskin Tumor

a malignant biliary tumor located at the junction of the right and left hepatic ducts

Mirizzi Syndrome

a clinical condition when the patient presents with jaundice, pain and fever secondary to a lodged stone in the cystic duct causing compression of the common duct

Parallel Tube sign

the enlargment of the common duct to the size of the adjacent portal vein within the portal hepatis

Pneumobilia

air within the biliary tree

Pruritis

severe itchiness of the skin

Pseudogallbladder sign

a sign associated with biliary atresia in children where there is evidence of a cystic structure in the gallbladder fossa without the presences of an actual gallbladder

Shotgun sign

the enlargement of the common duct to the size of the adjacent portal vein within the porta hepatis; also referred to as the parallel tube sign

Sphincter of Oddi

the muscle that controls the emptying of bile and pancreatic juices into the duodenum; also referred to as the hepatopancreatic sphincter

Triangular cord sign

a sign associated with biliary atresia in children that is described as an avasculalr, echogenic, triangular, or tubular structure anterior to the portal vein, representing the replacement of the extrahepatic duct with fibrous tissue in the porta hepatis

Ulcerative colitis

an inflammatory bowel disease that leads to the developement of ulcers within the bowel