Assessment
Questionnaire
Have a symptom?
See what questions
a doctor would ask.
See what questions
a doctor would ask.
Gallstones are a common condition of the biliary tract of the digestive system. Gallstones are hard deposits that are similar to pebbles or stones that can develop in the gallbladder. They can be tiny, like a grain of sand, to quite large in size, such as a golf ball.
Sometimes gallstones can remain in the gallbladder or pass through the cystic duct and the common bile duct with causing any symptoms of problems. Gallstones can also become lodged within a duct and cause pain, illness and possibly complications.
The gallbladder is an organ that is a part of the digestive system and is located in the upper right side of the abdomen under the liver. The pear-shaped gallbladder is a hollow sac that concentrates and stores the digestive substance bile, which is produced by the liver.
Bile flows from the liver into the gallbladder for storage. When food is eaten, the gallbladder squeezes the stored bile into the cystic duct and down the common bile duct into the duodenum of the small intestine where bile works to help digest food.
When a gallstone or gallstones in the gallbladder cause inflammation or passes out of the gallbladder and becomes trapped or stuck in the cystic duct, it is called cholecystitis. When a gallstone or gallstones passes out of the gallbladder and becomes trapped or stuck in the common bile duct, it is called choledocholithiasis.
Gallstones that cause these conditions can result such symptoms as severe epigastric pain, abdominal pain, ride sided abdominal pain, and/or pain that radiates around the right rib cage and into the back. A commonly used general term used for the pain caused by gallstones is biliary colic. Other typical symptoms include nausea and vomiting.
Some people with gallstones may have no symptoms or problems at all. However, in some cases, gallstones can result in serious, even life-threatening complications, such as pancreatitis, biliary cirrhosis, peritonitis and cholangitis. For more information on symptoms and complications, refer to symptoms of gallstones.
Making a diagnosis of gallstones begins with taking a thorough medical history, including symptoms. A physical examination is also performed, which may reveal severe tenderness of the upper right abdomen.
Diagnostic testing may include imaging, such as ultrasound scan, which will detect and locate any gallstones. A nuclear scan called a hepatobiliary scan can check for any obstruction of the gallbladder. A CT of the abdomen may also be done.
Blood tests called liver function tests may be performed to determine the level of functioning of the liver. Blood tests may also be done to help determine the health of the pancreas, which can be seriously affected by gallstones that cause pancreatitis.
It is possible that a diagnosis of gallstones can be missed because some people have no symptoms. If there are symptoms, they may be attributed to other conditions with similar symptoms. For more information on misdiagnosis, refer to misdiagnosis of gallstones.
The treatment for gallstones involves a multifaceted approach. Treatment plans vary depending on the severity of the symptoms, the presence of complications, and an individual's medical history. Gallstones that are causing pain or biliary colic are treated with pain medications, and surgery may be recommended to have the gallstones and gallbladder removed. For more information on treatment, refer to treatment of gallstones. ...more »
Gallstones: Certain chemicals form solid deposits in the gall bladder of the bile ducts. These can exist for years without symptoms, but eventually can cause blockages or damage. This can cause extreme digestive symptoms and pain. ...more »
The types and severity of symptoms of gallstones vary between individuals depending on a variety of factors, such as where the gallstones are located and the size of the stones, and the presence of complications.
Many people have no symptoms or physical problems and may be totally unaware that they have gallstones.
When symptoms do occur they often include severe, sharp ...more symptoms »
The goals of treatment of gallstones are to control symptoms, such as abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, and minimize the risk of developing serious complications, such as pancreatitis, biliary cirrhosis, and cholangitis. The most effective treatment plan for gallstones uses a multifaceted approach and varies depending on the number and location of gallstones, the severity ...more treatments »
A diagnosis of gallstones may be delayed or missed because some symptoms, such as abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting can attributed to many other conditions as such as gastroenteritis, heart attack, hiatal hernia, indigestion or peptic ulcer. It is important to seek prompt medical care if you experience any symptoms of gallstones and not assume that they are due to a less ...more misdiagnosis »
See full list of 26 symptoms of Gallstones
See full list of 13 treatments for Gallstones
Home medical testing related to Gallstones:
Read more about Deaths and Gallstones.
Alternative treatments or home remedies that have been listed in various sources as possibly beneficial for Gallstones may include:
Read more about Types of Gallstones
Test for Gallstones in your own home
Click for TestsRead more about tests for Gallstones
Review possible medical complications related to Gallstones:
See full list of 30 causes of Gallstones
More information about causes of Gallstones:
Research the causes of these diseases that are similar to, or related to, Gallstones:
Commonly undiagnosed diseases in related medical categories:
Chronic digestive conditions often misdiagnosed: When diagnosing chronic symptoms of the digestive tract, there are a variety of conditions that may be misdiagnosed. The best known, irritable bowel syndrome, is over...read more »
Intestinal bacteria disorder may be hidden cause: One of the lesser known causes of diarrhea is an imbalance of bacterial in the gut, sometimes called intestinal imbalance. The digestive system...read more »
Antibiotics often causes diarrhea: The use of antibiotics are very likely to cause some level of diarrhea in patients. The reason is that antibiotics kill off not only...read more »
Food poisoning may actually be an infectious disease: Many people who come down with "stomach symptoms" like diarrhea assume that it's "something I ate" (i.e. food poisoning). In fact, it's more likely to be an infectious...read more »
Mesenteric adenitis misdiagnosed as appendicitis in children: Because appendicitis is one of the more feared conditions for a child with abdominal pain, it can be over-diagnosed (it can, of course, also fail to be...read more »
Celiac disease often fails to be diagnosed cause of chronic digestive symptoms: One of the most common chronic digestive conditions is celiac disease, a malabsorption disorder with a variety of symptoms (see symptoms of...read more »
Chronic digestive diseases hard to diagnose: There is an inherent difficulty in diagnosing the various types of chronic digestive diseases. Some of...read more »
Read more about Misdiagnosis and Gallstones
Research related physicians and medical specialists:
Other doctor, physician and specialist research services:
Research quality ratings and patient safety measures for medical facilities in specialties related to Gallstones:
Hospital & Clinic quality ratings »
Choosing the Best Hospital: More general information, not necessarily in relation to Gallstones, on hospital performance and surgical care quality:
Rare types of diseases and disorders in related medical categories:
See full list of 17 latest treatments for Gallstones
More Gallstones animations & videos
More about prognosis of Gallstones
Visit our research pages for current research about Gallstones treatments.
The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.
Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Gallstones include:
See full list of 11 Clinical Trials for Gallstones
Related forums and medical stories:
Read about other experiences, ask a question about Gallstones, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:
Gallstones form when liquid stored in the gallbladder hardens into pieces of stone-like material. The liquid, called bile, is used to help the body digest fats. Bile is made in the liver, then stored in the gallbladder until the body needs to digest fat. At that time, the gallbladder contracts and pushes the bile into a tube—called a duct—that carries it to the small intestine, where it helps with digestion.
Bile contains water, cholesterol, fats, bile salts, and bilirubin. Bile salts break up fat, and bilirubin gives bile and stool a brownish color. If the liquid bile contains too much cholesterol, bile salts, or bilirubin, it can harden into stones. (Source: excerpt from Gallstones: NIDDK)
Gallstones are clumps of solid material that form in the gallbladder. They may occur as a single, large stone or many small ones. Gallstones are a mixture of compounds, but typically they are mostly cholesterol. (Source: excerpt from Dieting and Gallstones: NIDDK)
Gallstones are pieces of solid material that form in the gallbladder. Gallstones form when substances in the bile, primarily cholesterol and bile pigments, form hard, crystal-like particles. (Source: excerpt from Gallstones: NWHIC)
Presence or formation of GALLSTONES in the BILIARY TRACT, usually in the gallbladder (CHOLECYSTOLITHIASIS) or the common bile duct (CHOLEDOCHOLITHIASIS). - (Source - Diseases Database)
Tools & Services:
Medical Articles:
Search Specialists by State and City
By using this site you agree to our Terms of Use. Information provided on this site is for informational purposes only; it is not intended as a substitute for advice from your own medical team. The information on this site is not to be used for diagnosing or treating any health concerns you may have - please contact your physician or health care professional for all your medical needs. Please see our Terms of Use.
Copyright © 2011 Health Grades Inc. All rights reserved. Last Update: 1 February, 2012 (1:41)
