How is Gallbladder Disease Diagnosed?
DiagnosisYour healthcare professional may perform several types of imaging and blood tests to determine the severity of gallbladder disease.
Individuals with gallbladder disease will have elevated white blood cell count, indicating the body is fighting some infection. Therefore, your doctor may order tumor marker blood tests or Liver function tests (LFTs) that measure several enzymes and proteins.
Abdominal ultrasound and imaging tests produce images of internal organs, including the gallbladder. These images are vital in determining the severity or existence of gallbladder disease or inflammation.
Imaging tests include:
- Abdominal ultrasound. This is usually the first imaging test ordered as it is the best test to determine whether you have gallstones. It uses sound waves to look at your gallbladder and bile ducts to help your doctor make the correct diagnosis.
- Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP). Produces detailed cross-sectional images of your digestive organs and tissues.
- Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). This procedure uses an endoscope with high-energy sound waves to display images of your digestive tract and any nearby organs to help determine the presence of gallstones.
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). This technique combines endoscopy and X-ray technology to provide a clear image of the structure of your gallbladder and bile ducts to expose any abnormalities.
How is Gallbladder Disease Treated?
TreatmentThere are several options available for the treatment of gallstones and gallbladder inflammation.
Surgery
A cholecystectomy or surgical gallbladder removal is the primary treatment method for most gallbladder diseases. This is usually done laparoscopically (a surgery using small incisions, a camera, and long instruments) that removes the gallbladder and part of the biliary system so that bile flows directly from the liver into the small intestine. Patients recover faster and in less pain.
Other surgical procedures used to alleviate gallbladder symptoms include:
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Uses ERCP combined with other techniques to remove gallstones in the common bile duct.
- Choledochoscopy and pancreatoscopy. This procedure uses a very small camera to enter the bile ducts and sweep away or remove stones in your bile ducts.
- Gallbladder drainage. Draining the gallbladder externally by placing a small tube through the skin or by placing a special stent from the stomach or small intestine.
Medications
Your healthcare provider might prescribe medication to reduce the size of the gallstones, but they typically do not prevent the need for surgery. Suggest taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to manage pain and antibiotics to fight gallbladder infections.
Lifestyle
Adopting healthy lifestyle choices such as daily exercise and a nutrient-dense diet can help reduce the risk of developing gallstones and their related complications.
Trust NewYork-Presbyterian for Gallbladder Disease Treatment
Awareness of your gallbladder disease can be a catalyst for seeking treatment. At NewYork-Presbyterian, our gallbladder specialists are experts in assessing and treating gallstones and cholecystitis, offering nonsurgical and surgical approaches to relieve your pain and restore your quality of life.
Our teams include interventional endoscopists who use innovative methods to diagnose and treat gallbladder disease without surgery, using treatments not widely available elsewhere. Call us today to see how we can help you.