Angiocholitis or cholangitis, inflammation of the bile-ducts, is generally found in the common duct. It may, however, extend throughout the smaller ducts and capillaries. Is commonly secondary to inflammatory conditions in the stomach or duodenum. May be due to bacteria entering from the intestine or to irritation by the presence of a gallstone. In the catarrhal form the mucosa becomes reddened, swollen, edematous and covered by mucus.

In the suppurative type the biliary ducts are dilated, filled with purulent material, commonly stained with bile. The walls of the ducts are much thickened, softened and infiltrated by pus. The mucosa is congested, edematous, covered with mucus and in advanced cases, irregularly ulcerated. About the terminal branches of the ducts there are usually small abscesses. The liver is enlarged, swollen, softened and opaque. The surface is irregular in consequence of the projection of many small abscesses. The cut surface shows more or less enormously dilated bile-ducts filled with pus. The intervening liver tissue is the seat of marked periductal congestion, parenchymatous degeneration and necrosis.

If the swelling subsides bile begins to circulate and the symptoms cease. If there has been permanent obstruction to the duct by connective-tissue formation, secondary changes within the liver take place, such as obstructive biliary cirrhosis.