Investigations
When the patient presents to a doctor with a history suggestive of gallstones causing biliary colic, the doctor may wish to do carry out some tests to confirm the diagnosis. The tests that may be used are:
 | Blood tests - These include a full blood count and blood biochemistry. The full blood count gives the haemoglobin count (to make sure you are not anaemic), the white cell count (raised in infection), and the platelet count (these are the small sticky cells in your blood that help in clotting). The blood biochemistry indicates if your kidneys are functioning well and also indicates your 'liver function tests' (to check if the enzymes produced by the liver are correct and if bilirubin in your blood is elevated - this is the substance in bile that makes you look yellow when you are jaundiced). |
| Ultrasound scan - This is the best test to detect the presence of gallstones in the gallbladder. It is not so good for gallstones in the bile duct. |
| CT cholangiogram - This test is usually requested by the hospital doctor if there is a suspicion of a stone in the bile duct. A colourless dye (contrast medium) is injected into a vein and the CT scanner then used to take pictures of the bile duct. This is easily seen because the contrast medium is excreted into the bile duct and appears white on the CT scan. MRI can also be used for this purpose. |
| ERCP - this is another means of looking for and removing stones in the bile duct. It will be requested by a hospital doctor. It is therapeutic as well as being diagnostic but does have potential complications. |