The liver produces a compound called bile that is needed to help break up ingested fats and oils. The bile helps the intestines efficiently absorb these fats and oils, also known as lipids. Gallstones are masses that can develop in this bile. These gallstones can form either in the liver or in the gallbladder, which is where bile is stored. Stones can be as small as a grain of sand or as big as a golf ball.
Types
There are two main types of gallstones, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders (NIDDK). The most common type of gallstone is made predominantly of cholesterol and is yellow-green in color. These make up about 80 percent of all stones, according to the American Gastroenterological Association. Gallstones can also be made out of a protein called bilirubin; these are called pigment stones because they are darker in color.
Blockage
Gallstones on their own do not usually cause any symptoms, but they can cause issues if they block any of the ducts in the liver or gallbladder. Gallstones can lodge in the hepatic ducts, which transport bile in the liver, or within the cystic duct, which connects the liver to the gallbladder. Gallstones can also lodge in the common bile duct, which is what connects the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine.
Symptoms
Gallstones cause symptoms when they lodge in a duct and cause blockage. The main symptoms of this type of blockage are a rapid and sudden, intensifying pain in the upper-right or center of the abdomen, the Mayo Clinic notes. The pain may also travel to the patient's right shoulder or in between the shoulder blades. This pain is severe and can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours.
Diagnosis
An ultrasound of the abdomen is the most common technique used to diagnose gallstones, according to the American Gastroenterology Association. This procedure uses high-frequency sound waves to detect gallstones. MRI scans can also detect gallstones. Another test, called an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, involves injection of a dye into the bile duct via an endoscope inserted through the mouth. This procedure allows a doctor to visualize (using an X-ray or CT scan) the exact location of the gallstone.
Treatment
There are two approaches to treating gallstones, according to the Mayo Clinic. Some patients take medications that dissolve the gallstones. This mode of treatment can take several months to be effective. The other option is a cholecystectomy, or surgical removal of the gallbladder. Removing the gallbladder can help prevent gallstones from recurring.
