Cholelithiasis
Alternative names:
gallstones
Definition:
The presence of gallstones in the gallbladder without any
associated symptoms.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
Cholelithiasis is frequently without symptoms and is discovered
by routine X-ray study,
surgery, or autopsy. Virtually all gallstones are formed within
the gallbladder, an organ that normally functions to store
bile excreted from the
liver. Bile is a solution
composed of water, bile salts, lecithin, cholesterol and some
other small solutes. Changes in the relative concentration
of these components may cause precipitation from solution
and formation of a nidus, or nest, around which gallstones
are formed. While these stones may be as small as a grain
of sand, they may become as large as an inch in diameter depending
on how much time has elapsed from their initial formation.
In addition, depending on the main substance that initiated
their formation (e.g. cholesterol),
they may be yellow or otherwise pigmented in color.
Cholelithiasis is very common with the incidence
1 out of 1,000 people. The prevalence is greater in women,
native Americans, and people over 40.
In general, risk factors include increasing age, ethnic and
hereditary factors, female gender, obesity, diabetes, liver
cirrhosis, long-term intravenous nutrition (total parenteral
nutrition) and after certain kinds of operations for peptic
ulcers.
Updated Date: 06/22/00
Updated by: James P. Dolan, MD Research Fellow
and Senior Resident in Surgery, University of California,
San Francisco
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