What tests show gallbladder problems?

Some people often asked some questions (soalan) about gallbladder. What exactly is a gallbladder? Gallbladder is a pear-shaped structure that is situated just below your liver. The main function of gallbladder is to store an enzyme called bile. Bile is mainly used in the intestine in order to digest certain foods. If there is a problem with the gallbladder, then there will be a malfunction in processing the food inside the intestine, causing problems such as indigestion to happen. There are some common diseases that are associated with gallbladder. However, most of them usually can be diagnosed by using the same type of tests because they derive from the same anatomical structure. Due to the advancement in the use of technology nowadays, the tests that were done on gallbladder are mostly accurate and so reliable. Here are some common tests that can show gallbladder problems:

1. Abdominal ultrasound

This is the most common test that is done in order to look for any structural change in or within the gallbladder. An ultrasound imaging will enable a healthcare professional to get an idea or even make a diagnosis during a check-up. It involves the use of a handheld machine, called a transducer on your stomach. This transducer will then send signals to a computer, and the imaging of the upper part of your abdomen will be created. This test does not involve any invasive procedure at all, so it is pretty safe and usually will not give any health complications later on. There is also no pain at all.

2. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)

This is also an ultrasound procedure, meaning the mechanics behind it is the same with an abdominal ultrasound. However, one aspect that is very different from an abdominal ultrasound is it is an invasive procedure. It is often used by healthcare professionals in order to identify smaller structures that cannot be taken up by an abdominal ultrasound. They will insert a small, thin and flexible tube called endoscope into your mouth all the way through your digestive tract. This endoscope has a transducer in it and will send signals to the computer for imaging.

3. Other imaging tests

There are a lot of other imaging tests that can also be used in order to identify a problem regarding your gallbladder. These include computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and oral cholecystography, a hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid (HIDA) scan.

4. Blood test

This is one of the most common things to do for all healthcare professionals. It is also usually done first in any healthcare setting. This test also is one of the most important tests because it can show a lot of conditions that are associated with your gallbladder.

So, these are some of the most common tests that might be done if your doctor suspects that you are having a gallbladder problem. Most of these tests that were mentioned here are widely used to detect so many gallbladder problems that are common in this world. Some of these gallbladder diseases are gallstone and also cholecystitis. Usually, any problem with the gallbladder might give out symptoms such as pain at the upper right side of your abdomen and might move to your shoulder or the center of your abdomen, nausea, vomiting, fever, yellowish discoloration of your skin and also pale stool. If you think that you are suffering from these symptoms and fear that it might be caused by a gallbladder problem, it is always recommended to meet your doctor as soon as possible so that he can do the test mentioned in order to diagnose your condition.