There are many different disorders that affect the liver and biliary system. They include:

• Bile duct disorders. There are several different types of diseases and conditions that affect the bile ducts, which connect the gallbladder and liver to the small intestine. Some babies are born with bile duct disorders. Other types of disorders develop in adulthood.
  
  
• Cancer. Cancer can develop in the liver, bile ducts or gallbladder.
  
  
• Cirrhosis. Scarring of the liver, resulting in tissue and cell damage. Many conditions can scar the liver, although one of the most common is alcohol abuse.
  

  

• Cystic disease of the liver. Cysts can develop in the liver or in the bile ducts as a result of birth defects or disease.
  
  
• Fatty liver. The buildup of fat in the liver cells. There are two types of fatty liver: alcoholic and nonalcoholic. Fatty liver not associated with alcohol use is called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). New research indicates that fatty liver is the most common liver abnormality in children and adolescents, and is associated with diabetes in patients of all ages.
  
  
• Gallbladder disease. The gallbladder can become inflamed (cholecystitis). Gallbladder disease can also include gallstones, hard, stone-like masses formed from substances in bile such as cholesterol or bilirubin. Gallstones can develop in the gallbladder or in the bile ducts.
  

  

• Hepatitis. Inflammation of the liver. Many conditions, viruses and bacteria can cause hepatitis. There are several types of viral hepatitis. Autoimmune hepatitis is progressive inflammation of the liver associated with an abnormality of the body’s immune system.