Please verify your email address to receive email notifications.

Enter your email address

We have sent you a verification email. Please check your inbox and spam folder.

Unable to send verification, please refresh and try again later.

  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    How are gallstones diagnosed?

    Related Topics
    Digestive Health Gallstones
    answer this question

  • Find a professional to answer your question

  • 2

    Thanks

    Dr Michael Swan

    Gastroenterologist

    Michael Swan is a Gastroenterologist specialising in endoscopy, pancreaticobiliary disease and gastrointestinal cancer screening. Michael trained in clinical endoscopy with leaders in the field both … View Profile

    Gallstones are identified usually on imaging - either ultrasound or CT (computed tomography). 
    The majority of gallstones are asymptomatic - they have no symptoms - and are diagnosed when imaging in performed for other reasons. 
    Gallstones develop in the gallbladder for a variety of reasons - often related to genetics, obesity, diet and hormonal factors. 
    Symptoms that can be attrbuted to gallstones include pain (in the right upper portion of the abdomen) that can be episodic or continuous, jaundice and fevers and sweating. 
    In the setting of these symptoms and/or abnormalities in the liver blood tests, the finding of gallstones is significant and would suggest that some form of treatment should be undertaken to treat the gallstones. This could include either an operation (cholecystectomy) or an endsocpic procedure called an ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography). 

    Reply to this post
     · 
    Report
    Reply to this post

    You must be a Health Professional to reply to this post. to your account or now (it's free).

answer this question

You must be a Health Professional to answer this question. Log in or Sign up .

You may also like these related questions

Related Fact Sheets
Related Questions

Empowering Australians to make better health choices