Biliary stricture is an abnormal narrowing of the biliary duct, the tube that moves bile (a chemical used in digestion) from the liver to the small intestine.

Biliary strictures are often caused by surgical injury to the bile ducts, for example, after surgery to remove the gallbladder (cholecystectomy).

Other causes of this condition are pancreatitis, breakdown of the duct by a gallstone in the bile duct, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and cancer of the bile duct.

Risk factors include previous biliary surgery, pancreatitis, cholelithiasis, or injury to the intestine.

• Abdominal pain
• Fever
• Chills
• Jaundice
• Pale or clay-colored stools
• Nausea and vomiting
• Itching

Tests that show stricture in the bile duct:

• ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography)
• PTC (percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram)
• MRCP (magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography)

Blood tests that indicate abnormal function of biliary system:

• Bilirubin level is higher than normal
• ALP (alkaline phosphatase) is higher than normal

This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:

• Fecal fat
• Urine bilirubin
• Prothrombin time (PT)
• Amylase
• Lipase