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Gallstones
Definition:
Gallstones are formed within the gallbladder, an organ that stores bile excreted from the liver. Bile is made up of water, salts, lecithin, cholesterol, and other substances. If the concentration of these components changes, gallstones may form. Gallstones may be as small as a grain of sand, or they may become as large as an inch in diameter, depending on how long they have been forming. Text Continues Below
Alternative Names:
Cholelithiasis
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
Gallstones often have no symptoms and are usually discovered by a routine x-ray, surgery, or autopsy. Gallstones are a common health problem worldwide. They are more common in women, Native Americans, and people over the age of 40. Other risk factors include ethnic and hereditary factors, obesity, diabetes, liver cirrhosis, long-term intravenous nutrition, and some operations for peptic ulcers.
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