The pancreas, gallbladder and bile duct (biliary) systems work together to form an important part of the digestive system. The pancreas and liver produce juices which help in the process of digestion. The pancreas is about the same size and shape as a small banana and lies in the upper abdomen toward the back and near the spine. The gallbladder is a small organ that stores bile. It is attached to your digestive system by a system of hollow ducts called the biliary tree. The gallbladder creates a reservoir for bile that is actually made in the liver.

Here are a few of the pancreatic and biliary conditions and diseases we diagnose and/or treat:

ACUTE AND CHRONIC PANCREATITIS

Acute pancreatitis is usually a sudden and severe condition when the pancreas rapidly becomes inflamed. Chronic pancreatitis occurs when inflammation and damage develop more slowly and increasingly worsen over time.

GALLSTONES

Gallstones are a very common condition where pieces of solid material that form in the gallbladder cause steady, severe pain in the upper abdomen.

PANCREATIC CANCER

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer in United States. Risk factors include family history, age, smoking, diets low in vegetables and/or high in red meats, obesity, diabetes and chronic pancreatitis.