Gallstones are concretions that form in the biliary tract, usually in the gallbladder.
Their development is insidious, and they may remain asymptomatic for decades. Migration of gallstones may lead to occlusion of the biliary and pancreatic ducts, causing pain (biliary colic) and producing acute complications, such as acute cholecystitis, ascending cholangitis, or acute pancreatitis. Chronic gallstone disease may lead to fibrosis and loss of function of the gallbladder and predisposes to gallbladder cancer. Excision of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) to cure gallstone disease is among the most frequently performed abdominal surgical procedures.
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