Comprehensive Liver and Gallbladder Diseases & Diagnostic Procedures

Ascites

Accumulation of ascitic fluid in the abdominopelvic cavity due to increased pressure in abdominal veins.

Cirrhosis

Chronic, progressive inflammation and irreversible degeneration of the liver.

Hepatomegaly

Enlargement of the liver due to cirrhosis, hepatitis, or cancer; enlargement is palpable on physical exam.

Hepatitis

Infection and inflammation of the liver by the hepatitis virus; the most common chronic liver disease.

Jaundice

Yellow discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes due to unconjugated bilirubin in the blood.

Hepatoma (liver cancer)

Secondary cancer that began elsewhere in the body and metastasized to the liver.

Cholangiocarcinoma (Gallbladder cancer)

Cancer in the ducts of the gallbladder.

Cholangitis

Inflammation of the bile ducts due to cirrhosis or gallstones.

Cholecystitis

Inflammation of the gallbladder due to blockage of the cystic duct by a gallstone.

Cholelithiasis

Condition of gallstones in the gallbladder; called choledocholithiasis when stones are in the common bile duct (CBD).

Gallstones in the biliary and pancreatic ducts

A gallstone in the upper common bile duct causes bile to back up into the gallbladder and liver.

Pancreatic cancer (adenocarcinoma)

Cancer in the ducts of the pancreas; prognosis for most patients is poor because it is typically diagnosed in the late stages.

Gallbladder

A dark green sac posterior to the liver that concentrates and stores bile from the liver.

Bile Duct

The duct that carries bile from the gallbladder to the duodenum.

Cystic Duct

The duct that connects the gallbladder to the common bile duct.

Common Bile Duct

The duct that carries bile from the liver and gallbladder to the duodenum.

Pancreas

A yellow, triangular organ posterior to the stomach that secretes several digestive enzymes into the duodenum.

Insulin

A hormone secreted by the pancreas as part of the endocrine system.

Biliary Ducts

Ducts that transport bile from the liver to the gallbladder and duodenum.

Fatty Chyme

Partially digested food mixed with bile that prompts gallbladder contractions.

aden/o-

gland

carcin/o-

cancer

-oma

tumor

Pancreatitis

Inflammation or infection of the pancreas.

Albumin

Major protein molecule in the blood, produced by the liver; low level may indicate liver disease.

Culture and sensitivity (C&S)

Fecal test in which bacterial colonies are grown in culture for identification and testing of antibiotics.

Fecal occult blood test

Fecal test to determine whether non-visible blood is present in feces.

Gastric analysis

Test to measure the amount of hydrochloric acid in the stomach; uses a nasogastric tube to collect stomach contents.

Liver function tests (LFTs)

Panel of blood tests that gives a comprehensive picture of liver function.

Ova and parasites (O&P)

Fecal test to determine whether parasites are in the GI system by checking for worms and their eggs in feces.

Barium enema (BE)

X-rays taken after injection with the liquid contrast medium barium into the rectum/colon.

Cholangiography

X-ray taken after injection with iodinated contrast dye to outline bile ducts.

Computerized axial tomography

X-rays taken in successive slices to create images of abdominal organs and structures; also called CAT scan or CT scan.

Flat plate of the abdomen

X-ray taken without contrast dye as the patient lies supine on the table.

Gallbladder ultrasound

Ultra high-frequency sound waves used to produce an image of the gallbladder to show wall thickening and stones.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Images taken in successive slices using a strong magnetic field that causes protons in the body's atoms to emit a signal.

Upper gastrointestinal series (UGI)

Continuous, moving x-ray taken after ingestion of liquid barium; allows visualization of the upper GI tract.

Insertion of a nasogastric (NG) tube

Placement of a flexible tube through the nose and into the stomach to remove stomach contents or give food or drugs.

Enema

Insertion of water into the rectum to stimulate a bowel movement (BM) and relieve constipation.

Antacid drugs

Neutralize acid in the stomach to treat heartburn.

Antibiotic drugs

Treat bacterial infections anywhere in the GI tract; not effective for viral infections.

Antidiarrheal drugs

Treat diarrhea by slowing down peristalsis to increase water absorption.

Antiemetic drugs

Treat nausea and vomiting and motion sickness.

H2 blocker drugs

Block histamine 2 (H2) receptors in the stomach to treat GERD and PUD.

Laxative drugs

Treat constipation by softening feces or adding dietary fiber; suppositories are inserted into the rectum and directly stimulate peristalsis.

Proton pump inhibitor drugs

Block production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach to treat GERD and PUD; an example is Prilosec.

Abdominocentesis

Removal of fluid from the abdomen (ABD, abd) using a needle.

Appendectomy

Removal of an infected appendix.

Bariatric surgery

Surgery for severe obesity that limits food intake and nutrient absorption.

Biopsy

Removal of a small piece of tissue from an ulcer, polyp, or growth; examined for cancerous cells.

Choledocholithotomy

Surgery to make an incision in the common bile duct (CBD) to remove a gallstone.

choledoch/o-

common bile duct

lith/o-

stone

-tomy

process of cutting into

Bowel resection and anastomosis

Removal of a portion of diseased intestine (resection) and joining of the intestine back together (anastomosis).

Cholecystectomy

Removal of the gallbladder; usually done laparoscopically.

Carbon dioxide gas

Used to inflate the abdominal cavity and separate the organs during a cholecystectomy.

Colostomy

Removal of a diseased part of the colon and creation of an opening in the abdominal wall for feces to pass through.

Endoscopy

Examination of the GI system with a flexible, lighted endoscope.

Colonoscopy

A colonoscope with a camera is passed through the patient's anus to examine the rectum and colon.

Exploratory laparotomy

Exploration of the abdominopelvic cavity for evidence of disease or trauma.

Gastrectomy

Removal of all or part of the stomach due to cancer.

Gastrostomy

Procedure to create a temporary or permanent opening in the abdominal wall in order to place a feeding tube.

Hemorrhoidectomy

Removal of hemorrhoids from the rectum or from around the anus.

Herniorrhaphy

Closure of a defect in the abdominal muscle wall where there is a hernia.

Jejunostomy

Creation of an opening from the abdominal wall into the jejunum to insert a feeding tube.

Liver transplantation

Removal of a severely damaged liver and insertion of a donor liver in a patient with end-stage liver disease.

Polypectomy

Removal of one or more polyps from the colon using forceps or a wire snare.

ABD, abd

abdomen

ALP

alkaline phosphatase

ALT

alanine aminotransferase; or alanine transaminase

AST

aspartate aminotransferase; or aspartate transaminase

BE

barium enema

BM

bowel movement

C&S

culture and sensitivity

CAT, CT

computerized axial tomography

CBD

common bile duct

CLO

Campylobacter-like organism

EGD

esophagogastroduodenoscopy

ERCP

endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

GERD

gastroesophageal reflux disease

GGTP, GGT

gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase

GI

gastrointestinal

HAV

hepatitis A virus

HBV

hepatitis B virus

HCV

hepatitis C virus

IBD

inflammatory bowel disease

IBS

irritable bowel syndrome

LFTs

liver function tests

MRI

magnetic resonance imaging

N&V

nausea and vomiting

NG

nasogastric

O&P

ova and parasites

OCG

oral cholecystogram; oral cholecystography

PEG

percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy

PEJ

percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy

PUD

peptic ulcer disease

RLQ

right lower quadrant (of the abdomen)

RUQ

right upper quadrant (of the abdomen)

UGI

upper gastrointestinal (series)