Stenosis Of The Bile-Ducts is generally due to obstruction in acute inflammation by the thickening of the mucous membrane and the presence of mucus. In chronic inflammation there may be an overgrowth of connective tissue. Foreign bodies within or neoplasm from without may press upon the ducts and obstruct them. According to the location of the stenosis different conditions result. If the cystic duct be closed, the liver tissue is unaffected, but the bile is unable to escape from the gall-bladder, which becomes much distended If the hepatic duct is obstructed, all the smaller ducts and capillaries above become dilated by the retained bile, and infection frequently occurs, giving rise to a suppurative cholangitis. Obstruction of the common duct will give rise to the dilatation of both gall-bladder and biliary ducts. As a result the liver becomes enlarged and deeply stained by bile-pigments. The cells in the outer zone of the acini contain pigment granules, and there is frequently an overgrowth of fibrous tissue along the ducts. Areas of necrosis may also be present.