# Personalized Treatments for Functional Disorders of the Sphincter of Oddi: A Short Muscle with a Long History of Discussion and Controversies

**Authors:** Zoltán Berger, Ákos Pap

PMC · DOI: 10.3390/jpm16020106 · 2026-02-10

## TL;DR

This review discusses the role of the sphincter of Oddi in digestive health and explores personalized treatment approaches for its functional disorders.

## Contribution

The paper emphasizes the need for individualized, non-invasive treatment strategies for functional sphincter of Oddi disorders.

## Key findings

- Functional disorders of the sphincter of Oddi require conservative, patient-centered treatment.
- Organic diseases of the sphincter often necessitate invasive endoscopic interventions.
- Patient and family involvement is crucial in managing functional sphincter disorders.

## Abstract

The sphincter of Oddi (OS) is a small group of smooth muscles that plays a crucial role in the regulation of the flow of biliopancreatic secretions into the duodenal lumen. Its motility, including phasic contractions and relaxation, is under complex neurohumoral control. Organic or functional obstruction of the OS is an important factor in severe diseases, such as cholangitis and pancreatitis, as well as in functional disorders and recurrent abdominal pain. In this review, we summarize the function of the OS, its disorders, and their diagnostic methods and potential therapeutics. While organic diseases of the papilla often require invasive, mainly endoscopic, treatment, functional disorders should be managed with conservative, individualized treatment, and involve the patient and their family in decision-making.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** cholangitis (MONDO:0004789), pancreatitis (MONDO:0004982)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** SOD1 (superoxide dismutase 1) [NCBI Gene 6647] {aka ALS, ALS1, HEL-S-44, IPOA, SOD, STAHP}, CCK (cholecystokinin) [NCBI Gene 885], CCKAR (cholecystokinin A receptor) [NCBI Gene 886] {aka CCK-1R, CCK-A, CCK1-R, CCK1R, CCKRA}
- **Diseases:** stone (MESH:D007669), chronic pancreatitis (MESH:D050500), digestive disorders (MESH:D004066), organic disorders (MESH:D019965), bile flow obstruction (MESH:D002779), gastrointestinal disorders (MESH:D005767), choledocholithiasis (MESH:D042883), Milwaukee class II disorders (MESH:D000070656), spasm (MESH:D013035), hypotonic (MESH:D009123), Cholelithiasis (MESH:D002769), pancreatic damage (MESH:D010182), dyspepsia (MESH:D004415), Visceral hyperalgesia (MESH:D006930), intestinal disorders (MESH:D007410), biliary dyskinesis (MESH:D001658), hypersensitivity (MESH:D004342), irritable bowel syndrome (MESH:D043183), bacterial (MESH:D001424), Dyskinesia (MESH:D004409), organic diseases (MESH:D000092124), abdominal disease (MESH:D015746), emphysema (MESH:D004646), Functional Disorders of the Sphincter of Oddi (MESH:D046628), Postcholecystectomy Syndrome (MESH:D017562), Biliary and pancreatic pain (MESH:D010195), biliary stone (MESH:D002137), organic disease of the papilla of Vater (MESH:C536534), Bile stones (MESH:D042882), tumors (MESH:D009369), pain (MESH:D010146), coronary diseases (MESH:D003327), pancreatic ductal anomalies (MESH:D021441), obstructive stenosis of the papilla (MESH:D010211), injury to (MESH:D014947), inflammation (MESH:D007249), fibrosis (MESH:D005355), acute pain (MESH:D059787), cholangitis (MESH:D002761), class II dyskinesis (MESH:D008312), bile duct dilatation (MESH:D001649), Class III OS (MESH:C567932), stenosis (MESH:D003251), microlithiasis (MESH:C566478), duodenal distention (MESH:D004382), functional disorder (MESH:D003291), jaundice (MESH:D007565), overweight (MESH:D050177), diarrhea (MESH:D003967)
- **Chemicals:** nitroglycerin (MESH:D005996), Choleretic-Morphine (-), aminophylline (MESH:D000628), Prostigmine (MESH:D009388), bile acid (MESH:D001647), calcium (MESH:D002118), Morphine (MESH:D009020), anisodamine (MESH:C003922), ursodeoxycholic acid (MESH:D014580), vardenafil (MESH:D000069058), theophylline (MESH:D013806), trimebutine (MESH:D014287), Duloxetine (MESH:D000068736), opiates (MESH:D053610), nitrate (MESH:D009566), NO (MESH:D009569), Buscapina (MESH:D002086), codeine (MESH:D003061), isosorbide dinitrate (MESH:D007548)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Mus musculus (house mouse, species) [taxon 10090]

## Figures

2 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12941464/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12941464