Hepatology

Hepatology is the branch of medicine focused on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases and conditions of the liver, gallbladder, biliary tree, and pancreas. It is a subspecialty of gastroenterology, and practitioners of hepatology are known as hepatologists. In some countries, hepatology may also be referred to as hepatobiliary medicine. Hepatologists diagnose and treat a range of conditions and diseases, such as alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, hepatitis, biliary tract obstruction, and primary biliary cholangitis. They also provide treatment for people who have developed liver failure or liver cancer. Hepatologists are often consulted by primary care physicians to provide specialist advice and guidance when patients present with liver-related complaints. They may also be consulted to help diagnose and treat rarer conditions, such as Wilson's disease and Budd-Chiari syndrome. Hepatologists may perform various tests on patients to help diagnose their condition, including blood tests, imaging tests, biopsies, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).