Courvoisier's law
Courvoisier's law (pronounced: koor-vwah-zee-ay's law) is a medical rule that pertains to the field of gastroenterology. It is named after the Swiss surgeon, Ludwig Georg Courvoisier, who first described it in the late 19th century.
Definition
Courvoisier's law states that in the presence of jaundice, a palpably enlarged gallbladder is unlikely to be due to gallstones. More commonly, it is due to a neoplasm such as pancreatic cancer or gallbladder cancer.
Etymology
The law is named after Ludwig Georg Courvoisier (1843-1918), a Swiss surgeon who made significant contributions to the field of gastroenterology. He was the first to describe the relationship between jaundice, gallbladder enlargement, and the absence of gallstones, which is now known as Courvoisier's law.
Clinical Significance
Courvoisier's law is used in the clinical setting to help differentiate the cause of jaundice and gallbladder enlargement. If a patient presents with these symptoms, and gallstones are not found, it is likely that the cause is a neoplasm. This can help guide further diagnostic testing and treatment.
Related Terms
- Jaundice: A yellowing of the skin and eyes due to elevated bilirubin levels in the blood.
- Gallbladder: A small organ that stores bile produced by the liver.
- Gallstones: Hardened deposits within the gallbladder that can cause pain and other symptoms.
- Pancreatic cancer: A type of cancer that starts in the pancreas.
- Gallbladder cancer: A rare type of cancer that starts in the gallbladder.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Courvoisier's law
- Wikipedia's article - Courvoisier's law
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