Browsing: Gallstones

Gallstones are solid particles that form in the gallbladder, a small organ located beneath the liver. These stones can range in size from tiny grains to large, golf-ball-sized masses and are primarily composed of cholesterol or bilirubin. Gallstones develop when substances in bile, such as cholesterol, become excessively concentrated and crystallize. Factors contributing to their formation include obesity, rapid weight loss, a high-fat diet, certain medical conditions, and genetics. Gallstones can be asymptomatic, but they often cause pain, known as biliary colic, particularly when they obstruct the bile ducts. This pain typically occurs in the upper right abdomen and can be severe. Complications of gallstones include cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder), pancreatitis, and bile duct infections. Diagnosis usually involves imaging tests such as ultrasound. Treatment options range from watchful waiting and medications to dissolve the stones to surgical removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) in more severe or symptomatic cases.