clinical features

Last reviewed 01/2018

This condition may be asymptomatic.

Symptoms include:

• biliary colic
• fluctuating jaundice
• right upper quadrant pain - intermittent or constant
• nausea and vomiting

Signs include:

• jaundice
• right upper quadrant tenderness
• there is a palpable gallbladder in 15%. Note that the gallbladder does not usually distend in this condition, even when the common bile duct is completely obstructed, because of the inflammatory fibrosis caused by the gallstones.
• the presence of fevers and rigors is indicative of cholangitis