Reviewed by medical experts • For informational purposes only
Gallstones are cholesterol, pigment or mixed, in the gallbladder or bile duct, and silent or symptomatic. Types guide care.
Gallstones are grouped by what they are made of and by how they behave. Knowing the type helps doctors judge the cause and the risk.
By composition
By number and size
Small stones can pass into the bile duct more easily and may cause more complications than a few large ones.
By location
By symptoms
Ayurvedic term
Gallstones are sometimes discussed under the term Pittashmari. This is an interpretive link, and modern imaging is how stones are actually identified.
Why the type matters
Cholesterol stones are often tied to weight, diet and hormones, while pigment stones point towards blood or liver conditions that need their own investigation. Your doctor may order extra tests if pigment stones are suspected. Treatment of symptomatic stones is generally the same: removal of the gallbladder.
Written By
Dr. Daksh
BDS
Reviewed By
Dr. Varun Gupta
MD Pharmacology, MBBS
Last updated on
27 Sep 2022 • 06:23 PM (IST)
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