Dear Colleagues,

As its title suggests, the scope of this Special Issue is broad. However, it is bounded by a clear focus on benign and malignant disorders and traumatic injuries of the extrahepatic biliary tract, encompassing the gallbladder, the common bile duct, and the first- (hepatic) and second-order (sectional) bile ducts. To further delineate its scope, several specific conditions and topics warrant explicit mention.

Most disorders of the extrahepatic biliary tract are related to gallstones and their sequelae, such as acute and chronic cholecystitis, obstructive jaundice, and acute gallstone pancreatitis. Nevertheless, acalculous cholecystitis and cholangitis deserve special consideration because of their distinct aetiopathogeneses. Consequently, infectious conditions involving the biliary tract, including those associated with Clonorchis sinensis, Cryptosporidium spp., and Microsporidia, are also within the scope of this Special Issue.

Primary sclerosing cholangitis, despite its involvement of both intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts, remains highly relevant to the theme of this Special Issue, and submissions on this topic are encouraged. Manuscripts addressing gallbladder and sphincter of Oddi dysmotility, cholesterolosis, gallbladder polyposis, adenomyomatosis, and congenital biliary anomalies, including biliary atresia and cyst, are likewise welcomed. Particular emphasis is placed on malignant tumours of the gallbladder and extrahepatic bile ducts, conditions that often manifest clinically as painless obstructive jaundice and continue to present substantial diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.

The second part of the title highlights the multidisciplinary and translational nature of this Special Issue. We encourage submissions across the broad spectrum of biliary tract research, including basic science, epidemiology, disease mechanisms, diagnostic strategies, conservative and surgical management, endoscopic and radiological interventions, and treatment outcomes. Studies evaluating health-related quality of life, patient-reported outcome measures, and advances in biliary education and training are equally welcome. Manuscript types and formatting should conform to the journal’s standard Instructions for Authors (AccScience Publishing).