Gallstones (Cholelithiasis)

Description

Hardened deposits of digestive fluid that can form in your gallbladder, a small organ located beneath the liver. Gallstones range in size from as small as a grain of sand to as large as a golf ball.

Common Symptoms

• Many people have no symptoms. If a stone lodges in a duct: Sudden and rapidly intensifying pain in the upper right abdomen or center of abdomen
• Back pain between your shoulder blades
• Pain in your right shoulder
• Nausea or vomiting

Common Causes

• Believed to result when your bile contains too much cholesterol, too much bilirubin, or your gallbladder doesn't empty correctly.

Treatment Information