Your pancreas is six to ten inches long and located in the upper left abdomen. Its primary function is to produce enzymes that aid in the digestion of food. It also aids in blood sugar control. The body's biliary system includes your bile ducts, gallbladder, and other digestive structures, which work together to transport bile (digestive fluid) through your body as required for digestion. Good digestion requires a healthy pancreas and biliary tract. When these areas are unhealthy, you risk developing risky conditions, such as diabetes, pancreatitis, pancreatic cysts, or pancreatic cancer. If you have a history of pancreas and bile duct disease in Chicago, IL, or near Oakbrook Terrace, IL, our providers at Summit Digestive & Liver Disease Specialists can help.

What To Know About Pancreas and Bile Duct Disease

The pancreatic ducts, also known as bile ducts, are a network of tubes that connect your liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and intestine. You are at risk for gastrointestinal diseases if one or more of these ducts become obstructed or if there is long-term damage to the surrounding tissues. Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) requires urgent medical attention because complications include infection, kidney damage, diabetes, or worse. You're also at risk for developing gallstones in the gallbladder, which causes intensifying pain in the center of your abdomen. Some pancreas and bile duct diseases are preventable, while others are hereditary.

Diagnostic tools for pancreas and bile duct disease in our Chicago, IL, and Oakbrook Terrace, IL, office include blood tests, a CT scan or MRI which can detect inflammation, as well as endoscopy or ultrasound. Treatment depends on the underlying cause.

Schedule a consultation with one of our providers at Summit Digestive & Liver Illness Specialists if you have the following: dark-colored urine, a loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, nausea, vomiting, or symptoms of pancreas and bile duct disease in Chicago, IL, or Oakbrook Terrace, IL. Please call (630) 889-9889 for appointment scheduling.