Gallstone disease overview
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Gallstone disease Microchapters |
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Diagnosis |
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Treatment |
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Surgery |
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Gallstone disease overview On the Web |
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Gallstones is the presence of gallstones (cholelithiasis) within the gallbladder. Gallstones are crystalline bodies formed within the body by accretion or concretion of normal or abnormal bile components. Gallstones can occur anywhere within the biliary tree, including the gallbladder and the common bile duct. Obstruction of the common bile duct is choledocholithiasis; obstruction of the biliary tree can cause jaundice; obstruction of the outlet of the pancreatic exocrine system can cause pancreatitis. Cholelithiasis is the presence of stones in the gallbladder—chole- means "bile", lithia means "stone", and -sis means "process".
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Gallstones develop in many people without causing symptoms. The chance of symptoms or complications from gallstones is about 20%. Nearly all patients (99%) who have gallbladder surgery do not have their symptoms return.
Treatment
Medical Therapy
Nonoperative management is suboptimal (ursodiol, lithotripsy). Cholecystectomy is the therapy of choice.