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A gallstone is a stone formed within the gallbladder from precipitated bile components. [2] The term cholelithiasis may refer to the presence of gallstones or to any disease caused by gallstones, [5] and choledocholithiasis refers to the presence of migrated gallstones within bile ducts.
Gallstones are thought to be linked to the formation of cancer. Other risk factors include large (>1 cm) gallbladder polyps and having a highly calcified "porcelain" gallbladder. [21] Cancer of the gallbladder can cause attacks of biliary pain, yellowing of the skin , and weight loss. A large gallbladder may be able to be felt in the abdomen.
It shows a gallbladder wall that is almost pathologically thickened, at 3 mm. However, there is no apparent edema in the pericholecystic fat. The gallbladder contains biliary sludge, as well as gallstones, which create acoustic shadowing. There is thus gallstones without current cholecystitis.
The presence of gallstones, usually visualized by ultrasound, generally necessitates a surgical treatment (removal of the gall bladder, typically via laparoscopy). [ 27 ] Removal of the gallbladder with surgery, known as a cholecystectomy , is the definitive surgical treatment for biliary colic.
With these direct connections, gallstones can pass from the gallbladder to the intestines. Gallstones can get trapped in the gastrointestinal tract, most commonly at the connection between the small and large intestines (ileocecal valve). When a gallstone gets trapped, it can lead to an intestinal obstruction, called gallstone ileus, leading to ...
If the patient must have the gallbladder removed for gallstones, the surgeon may choose to proceed with the surgery, and obtain a cholangiogram during the surgery. If the cholangiogram shows a stone in the bile duct, the surgeon may attempt to treat the problem by flushing the stone into the intestine or retrieve the stone back through the ...
MRCP is used to diagnose gallstones. It can also diagnose choledochal cysts very reliably. [ 5 ] Besides providing information regarding the biliary system, MRCP also provides information regarding surrounding solid organs and blood vessels, thus useful for planning the resection of pancreatic cancer and look for complications of primary ...
Sometimes gallstones may get stuck in the cystic duct, which serves as a bridge between the gallbladder and the common bile duct, and can lead to inflammation in the wall of the gallbladder. [11] This inflammation of the gallbladder is known as cholecystitis and is a common indication for surgical removal of the gallbladder, or cholecystectomy ...