BILIARY MOTILITY DISORDERS

Disordered motility of the biliary tract may be associated with the ae tiology of common biliary tract conditions, such as gallstones. In thi s instance, treatment of the gallstone disease alleviates symptoms in the majority of patients. However, in up to 10% of patients, biliary m otility disorders may present in the absence of gallstones or in patie nts after cholecystectomy. Gallbladder dyskinesia results in biliary-t ype pain. This abnormality may be objectively identified using the rad ionuclide gallbladder ejection fraction. The majority of patients with an abnormal test are improved or cured following cholecystectomy. Sph incter of Oddi dysfunction presents with either recurrent biliary-type pain or recurrent pancreatitis. Manometry of the sphincter of Oddi ob jectively identifies patients with manometric stenosis. The majority o f these patients are improved or cured following division of the sphin cter of Oddi.