Gallstones

Overview

This condition is a buildup of small, pebble-like deposits in the gallbladder. The gallbladder is a small, non-vital organ located just below the liver. The gallbladder stores bile, which is produced in the liver, until the body needs it. The gallbladder then pushes the bile into the small intestine, where it aids in the digestion of fats.

Causes

Gallstones are formed by the hardening of liquid bile in the gallbladder. Most gallstones are made of cholesterol or bilirubin - substances found in bile. These can form gallstones when they are present in abnormally high levels in the bile. Gallstones may form as one or more tiny pebbles, or as a large stone the size of a golf ball.

Risk Factors

Gallstones are more common in women, especially those who are pregnant, use hormone replacement therapy, or take birth control pills. Diabetics, American Indians, Mexican Americans and people with a family history of gallstones have a higher risk of developing gallstones. Other risk factors include being overweight or obese, losing a large amount of weight quickly, and taking cholesterol-lowering drugs.

Symptoms

Gallstones can cause painful episodes, commonly called gallbladder attacks, which often follow meals of fatty foods. Symptoms of a typical gallbladder attack may include a steady pain in the right upper abdomen that may last for 30 minutes to several hours, pain in the back between the shoulder blades, and pain in the right shoulder.

Diagnosis

Gallstones may be diagnosed with an ultrasound exam, a CT scan, an HIDA scan (which uses an injected substance to cause the gallbladder to contract), or an ERCP evaluation (which uses an endoscope to visualize gallstones).

Treatment

Gallstones can be removed endoscopically during an ERCP. They are also commonly treated with surgery to remove the entire gallbladder.