cholestasis /-stā″sis/ [Gk, chole + stasis, standing still] , interruption in the flow of bile through any part of the biliary system, from liver to duodenum. It is essential to determine whether the cause is within the liver (intrahepatic) or outside it (extrahepatic). Intrahepatic causes include hepatitis, drug and alcohol use, metastatic carcinoma, and pregnancy. Extrahepatic causes include presence of an obstructing calculus or tumor in the common bile duct and carcinoma of the pancreas. Symptoms of both types of cholestasis include jaundice, pale and fatty stools, dark urine, and intense itching over the skin. If liver disease is suspected, liver biopsy examination can confirm the suspicion, and attempts can be made to treat the underlying disorder. Extrahepatic cholestasis usually requires surgery. See also cholestatic hepatitis. −cholestatic, adj.
