From Amber J. Tresca,
Your Guide to Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by Kate Grossman, MD

Stools that look like clay or putty may be caused by a problem in the biliary system. The biliary system is the drainage system of the gallbladder, liver, and pancreas. This condition is also known as acholic stools.

The inability of the digestive system to absorb fat properly may result in stools that are light in color (yellow to gray) and appear greasy.

Causes

Bile is created in the liver and stored in the gallbladder and released into the first section of the small intestine (the duodenum) while food is passing through. Bile gives stool its brown color, so if bile is not being produced or if the bile ducts are blocked, the result could be stool that is pale.

Common causes of stool that is pale or clay colored include:

• Alcoholic hepatitis
• Biliary cirrhosis
• Birth defect
• Cysts
• Gallstones
• Hepatitis A,B, or C
• Infection
• Sclerosing cholangitis
• Side effects from medication
• Strictures
• Tumor

Associated Symptoms

Clay colored stool may be accompanied by a yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes (jaundice) or darkened urine. If these symptoms occur, a physician should be consulted immediately.

Diagnosis

In order to treat pale stools, the underlying cause must be diagnosed. In addition to a complete medical history, some of the tests that might be used to make a diagnosis are:

• Abdominal ultrasound
• Blood work to test for an infection
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
• Liver function tests
• Surgery to find defects in the biliary tract

Treatment

Treatment will depend on the underlying cause. If the cause is the malabsorption of fats, a change in diet and vitamin supplements may be prescribed. In the case of blocked bile ducts, surgery may be required to open the ducts. If the acholic stools are a symptom of another condition, such as hepatitis, the underlying cause should be treated.