Gallstone Disease Overview

Medical term for gallstone disease

Bile contains bilirubin, bile salts, and cholesterol.

Imbalance of bile components causes precipitation and stone formation.

System of ducts that transport bile from liver to gallbladder to intestines

Inflammation of the gallbladder, often due to gallstone blockage.

Most common type, often not visible on X-ray (radiolucent).

Blockages can cause jaundice, pancreatitis, or intestinal obstruction.

Modern diagnosis of gallstones primarily uses ultrasound instead of X-rays

Condition causing excess bilirubin from heme breakdown, increasing gallstone risk.

Impaired liver function affecting bilirubin conjugation, raising gallstone risk.

Bacterial infections converting conjugated bilirubin to unconjugated bilirubin (less soluble), increasing stone risk.

Gallstones with higher calcium content, often from bacterial infections.

Gallstones associated with hemolysis and liver disease.

Gallstones present without noticeable symptoms.

Surgical removal of the gallbladder to treat gallstone issues.

Episodic, right upper quadrant pain, often radiating to the shoulder, triggered by gallbladder contraction against a stone.

Inflammation of the gallbladder due to stone blockage, causing pain and potentially serious complications.

Sharp pain when pressure is applied to the right upper quadrant during deep inhalation, a key diagnostic sign for acute cholecystitis.

Stone lodged in the common bile duct, causing blockage and potential complications like jaundice and cholangitis.

Medical therapy for cholesterol gallstones; reduces cholesterol secretion into bile.

Yellowing of the skin and eyes due to a build up of bilirubin.

Elevated levels of the liver enzyme Alkaline Phosphatase, potentially indicating obstruction in the biliary tract.

Inflammation of the peritoneum, a membrane lining the abdominal cavity, often a complication of other conditions, like ruptured gall bladder.

Elderly patients with gallstone symptoms may have rare gallbladder cancer. This is because gallstone disease is uncommon in this age group.

Increased cholesterol levels or decreased bile acids/salts increase the likelihood of cholesterol gallstones.

Estrogen promotes cholesterol synthesis, increasing the risk of cholesterol gallstones. This explains why women have a greater risk.

Pregnancy and multiple pregnancies are risk factors for cholesterol gallstones due to increased estrogen and progesterone, which affects gallbladder emptying.

Obesity and rapid weight loss increase cholesterol in bile, raising the risk for cholesterol gallstones.

Bile salts are produced in the liver, mostly reabsorbed in the terminal ileum (95%).

Reduced bile salt production by the liver leads to lower bile salt levels, increasing the risk of cholesterol gallstones.

Impaired absorption of bile salts in the terminal ileum reduces bile salt levels, a risk factor for cholesterol gallstones.

Cirrhosis (liver damage) reduces bile salt production, increasing the risk of cholesterol gallstones.

Crohn's disease inflammation in the ileum causes reduced bile salt absorption, increasing gallstone risk.

Cystic fibrosis can lead to pancreatic insufficiency, fat malabsorption, and reduced bile acid levels, increasing gallstone risk.

Some cholesterol-lowering drugs (e.g., fibrates, bile acid resins) can inhibit bile acid synthesis or prevent reabsorption, potentially increasing the risk of gallstones.

Gallstones composed of calcium bilirubinate, they result from high levels of unconjugated bilirubin.

Unconjugated bilirubin is less soluble in water than conjugated bilirubin, and high levels can lead to gallstone formation.

Pigment stones are visible on X-rays, unlike cholesterol gallstones.

Bile acids and salts emulsify cholesterol in the bile, keeping cholesterol dissolved, thus preventing gallstone formation.

Infection of the bile ducts, often due to bacteria migrating up from the gut, when the bile flow is blocked.

Classic symptoms of ascending cholangitis: fever, abdominal pain, and jaundice.

Ascending cholangitis with Charcot's triad plus confusion and low blood pressure—signaling sepsis.

Inflammation of gallbladder without gallstones, often due to bile flow issues.

Bile duct damage in people with advanced HIV, often due to infections.

Gallbladder with calcium deposits, significantly increased risk of cancer.

Pain in upper right abdomen caused by a gallstone lodged in the cystic duct.

Inflammation of the gallbladder, usually caused by a gallstone.

High levels of bilirubin in blood, often signaling issues with bile ducts.

High levels of Alkaline Phosphatase, often indicating biliary blockage.

Gallstones blocking the common bile duct

Thickened bile in the gallbladder, often seen in acalculous cholecystitis.

Procedure using a scope to treat bile duct blockages.

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography; a procedure using an endoscope to visualize and treat problems in the bile and pancreatic ducts.

A rare condition where a large gallstone erodes through the gallbladder wall, enters the intestines, and causes a bowel obstruction.

Inflammation of the pancreas, often caused by gallstones or alcohol.

A rare cancer of the gallbladder, often linked to chronic inflammation.

A type of bacteria that can cause typhoid fever and may remain in the gallbladder, increasing the risk for gallbladder cancer.

A network of ducts carrying bile from the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine.

The presence of gallstones in the gallbladder.

Solid masses formed in the gallbladder from bile components like cholesterol or bilirubin.

A long, thin, flexible tube with a camera at the end used for viewing internal organs.

A medical imaging technique that uses X-rays to create real-time moving images of internal structures.

Formation and presence of gallstones in the gallbladder, where bile components precipitate into solid material

Bile contains bilirubin, bile salts, and cholesterol; crucial for fat digestion and elimination of cholesterol

Most common type, usually radiolucent (not visible on X-ray), often linked with increased cholesterol, decreased bile salts or poor absorption of bile salts

Inflammation of the gallbladder, usually caused by a gallstone lodged in the cystic duct.

Gallstones blocking the flow of bile causing various issues

Blockage in the bile ducts can lead to jaundice, pancreatitis, or intestinal obstruction

Cholestoral gallstones are common in middle-aged people.

Ultrasound is primarily used to diagnose gallstones, replacing X-rays

Excess bilirubin from heme breakdown increases gallstone risk.

Impaired liver function hinders bilirubin conjugation, increasing gallstone risk.

Bacterial enzymes convert conjugated bilirubin to unconjugated (less soluble), forming stones.

Gallstones with higher calcium content, often from bacterial infections.

Gallstones associated with hemolysis or liver disease.

Gallstones present without noticeable symptoms.

Surgical removal of the gallbladder.

Episodic right upper quadrant pain, radiating to the right shoulder, often after eating.

Inflammation of the gallbladder due to stone blockage, causing pain and potential complications.

Sharp pain when pressure is applied to the right upper quadrant during inhalation.

Stone lodged in the common bile duct, causing blockage and potential complications.

Medical therapy for cholesterol gallstones; reduces cholesterol secretion into bile.

Yellowing of the skin and eyes due to a buildup of bilirubin.

High levels of Alkaline Phosphatase, often indicating biliary blockage.

Thickened bile in the gallbladder, often seen in acalculous cholecystitis.

Elderly patients with gallstone symptoms might have rare gallbladder cancer due to gallstone disease's uncommon occurrence in this age group.

High cholesterol or low bile salts increase the chance of cholesterol gallstones.

Estrogen promotes cholesterol synthesis, increasing cholesterol gallstone risk, notably in women.

Pregnancy's increased estrogen and altered gallbladder emptying increases the risk of cholesterol gallstones.

Obesity and rapid weight loss increase cholesterol in the bile, elevating the risk of cholesterol gallstones.

Bile salts are mostly reabsorbed in the small intestine, primarily the terminal ileum.

Insufficient bile salt production by the liver lowers bile salt levels, increasing the risk of cholesterol gallstones.

Impaired absorption of bile salts in the terminal ileum reduces bile salt levels, increasing the risk of cholesterol gallstones.

Cirrhosis (liver scarring) reduces bile salt production, increasing the risk of cholesterol gallstones.

Crohn's disease inflammation in the ileum reduces bile salt absorption, increasing gallstone risk.

Cystic fibrosis can lead to fat malabsorption and reduced bile acid levels increasing gallstone risk.

Some cholesterol-lowering drugs can reduce bile acid synthesis or prevent reabsorption, potentially increasing gallstone risk.

Gallstones composed of calcium bilirubinate, resulting from excess unconjugated bilirubin.

Unconjugated bilirubin is less soluble in water, leading to gallstone formation when levels are high.

Pigment gallstones, unlike cholesterol stones, are visible on X-rays due to their composition.

Infection of the bile ducts, often caused by bacteria travelling up from the gut when bile flow is blocked.

Classic symptoms of ascending cholangitis: fever, abdominal pain, and jaundice.

Ascending cholangitis with Charcot's triad plus confusion and hypotension—signaling sepsis.

Inflammation of the gallbladder without gallstones, often due to bile flow issues.

Bile duct damage in people with advanced HIV, often due to infections.

Gallbladder with calcium deposits, significantly increased risk of cancer.

Pain in upper right abdomen caused by a gallstone lodged in the cystic duct.

Inflammation of the gallbladder, usually caused by a gallstone.

High levels of bilirubin in blood, often signaling issues with bile ducts.

High levels of Alkaline Phosphatase, often indicating biliary blockage.

Gallstones blocking the common bile duct

Thickened bile in the gallbladder, often seen in acalculous cholecystitis.

Procedure using a scope to treat bile duct blockages.

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography; a procedure using an endoscope to visualize and treat problems in the bile and pancreatic ducts.

A rare condition where a large gallstone erodes through the gallbladder wall, enters the intestines, and causes a bowel obstruction.

Inflammation of the pancreas, often caused by gallstones or alcohol.

A rare cancer of the gallbladder, often linked to chronic inflammation.

A type of bacteria that can cause typhoid fever and may remain in the gallbladder, increasing the risk for gallbladder cancer.

A network of ducts carrying bile from the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine.

The presence of gallstones in the gallbladder.

Solid masses formed in the gallbladder from bile components like cholesterol or bilirubin.

A long, thin, flexible tube with a camera at the end used for viewing internal organs.

A medical imaging technique that uses X-rays to create real-time moving images of internal structures.