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The opening of your common bile duct looks different, or is in a different location than in most people.

Bile is produced in the liver. The bile is transported via bile ducts within the liver towards the gallbladder. The bile is collected in the gallbladder. When you eat something, bile is released into the intestine. This is what the common bile duct to the intestine is for.

The pancreas is tucked behind the stomach in the upper abdomen. The pancreas produces messenger substances. The messenger substances control the sugar level in the blood. The pancreas also produces a fluid that is released into the intestines. This fluid contains substances that are important for the digestion of fats, proteins and sugars. The fluid from the pancreas accumulates from a lot of minor ducts into one major duct. The common bile duct opens up into the first section of the intestine. The fluid from the bile ducts and the pancreatic ducts flows through this opening into the intestine. If the opening looks different or is in a different location, that can make the examination of the bile ducts and pancreatic ducts more difficult.

This kind of examination involves inserting a tube into the intestines and advancing it to the opening in the common bile duct. Images from the examined area can be transmitted to the outside via the tube. It can then be seen whether the tissue is healthy or changed.