Specialist information on conditions affecting the liver, pancreas, bile ducts and gallbladder — including liver disease, liver cancer, pancreatic conditions, gallstones, bile duct obstruction and complex HPB conditions that may need surgical or transplant assessment.
This page provides general information only and does not replace an individual medical assessment, diagnosis or treatment plan.
You may need specialist liver or HPB assessment if you have abnormal liver tests, jaundice, a liver or pancreatic scan finding, suspected liver cancer, complicated gallstones, bile duct obstruction, cirrhosis, advanced liver disease, or if you have been advised to consider liver surgery, pancreatic surgery, bile duct surgery or liver transplant assessment.
Conditions in this area can be first noticed through symptoms, blood tests, ultrasound, CT, MRI, MRCP or other investigations. Some conditions are managed with monitoring or medicine, while others may need specialist surgical, oncological, endoscopic or transplant review.
The liver can be affected by metabolic, viral, alcohol-related, autoimmune, inherited, bile duct-related and cancerous conditions.
Liver cancer may begin in the liver or spread to the liver from another part of the body. Treatment depends on tumour type, stage, location, liver function and overall health.
Pancreatic conditions may involve inflammation, cysts, tumours or cancer. Some are found because of abdominal pain, jaundice, weight loss or abnormal scan findings.
Gallbladder and bile duct conditions are common reasons for upper abdominal pain, jaundice and abnormal liver blood tests.
Symptoms can appear in different ways. Some are mild or vague, while others may suggest bile duct obstruction, infection, advanced liver disease or another condition that needs prompt assessment.
Seek prompt medical advice if you notice yellowing of the eyes or skin, dark urine, pale stools, severe itching, unexplained weight loss, ongoing vomiting, fever with abdominal pain or jaundice, swelling of the abdomen or legs, confusion, vomiting blood or passing black stools.
A specialist consultation usually begins with your symptoms, history, previous reports and scan findings. Complex cases may require coordinated review by more than one specialist.
Your doctor reviews symptoms, medical background, medicines, previous treatment and risk factors.
Blood tests may include liver function tests, infection markers, clotting tests or tumour markers.
Ultrasound, CT, MRI, MRCP, PET or other imaging may be reviewed depending on the diagnosis.
Further tests, endoscopy, biopsy or pathology review may be recommended when needed.
Options may include monitoring, medicines, endoscopy, radiology, oncology care, surgery or transplant assessment.
The consultation should explain the likely pathway, risks, alternatives, preparation and follow-up.
The same diagnosis can require different treatment in different patients. For example, treatment for liver cancer may depend on tumour size and location, liver function, cancer stage, cirrhosis, general health and whether surgery is safe.
Treatment may include monitoring, medicines, endoscopic procedures, interventional radiology, oncology treatment, liver resection, pancreatic surgery, bile duct surgery, gallbladder surgery or liver transplant assessment in selected cases.
Understand possible liver disease symptoms, common liver conditions and when to seek assessment.
TreatmentsExplore liver transplantation, liver cancer surgery, pancreatic surgery, bile duct surgery and gallbladder care.
Patient resourcesRead patient-friendly resources about diagnosis, treatment planning, surgery and recovery.
Specialist adviceRequest a specialist opinion for a diagnosis, abnormal scan, transplant assessment or second opinion.
An HPB surgeon is a hepatobiliary-pancreatic surgeon who specialises in complex conditions and surgery involving the liver, pancreas, bile ducts and gallbladder.
No. Abnormal liver tests can have many causes and should be interpreted together with symptoms, medical history, medicines, risk factors and imaging.
Yes. Some liver conditions cause few or no symptoms in the early stages and are first found through routine blood tests or scans.
Liver surgery may be considered for selected liver tumours, liver cancer, secondary liver tumours, some benign liver lesions and other complex liver conditions.
Liver transplant assessment may be considered for selected patients with advanced liver disease, acute liver failure or certain liver cancers after detailed evaluation by a transplant team.
No. Some gallstones do not cause symptoms and may not need surgery. Surgery may be considered when gallstones cause pain, infection, inflammation or bile duct blockage.
Some pancreatic cysts have a higher risk than others. Specialist review helps determine whether monitoring, further testing or surgery should be considered.
Yes. Patients may request specialist review for a new diagnosis, abnormal scan, liver cancer, pancreatic condition, gallbladder or bile duct condition, transplant assessment or complex HPB surgery recommendation.
Request a consultation with Prof. Thamara Perera at Kings Hospital Colombo for liver disease, liver cancer, pancreatic conditions, gallbladder disease, bile duct obstruction, liver transplant assessment or a second opinion on complex HPB surgery.