hardened deposits which form in gall bladder

Gall stones 95% of gall bladder disease

70-80% asymptomatic – 4% / year symptomatic

Two major types:

80% - Mixed cholesterol stones with ca+, bile, blood. (most common)

20% - Pigment stones

• Black, soft, friable (Haemoglobin from haemolytic anaemia, common in Asians)
• Brown (with Ca+) from Infection, IBD. rare.
• Yellow: pure cholesterol. have spikes on surface and cause bleeding. suspect severe hypercholesterolaemia.

Aetiology

• Age & Sex: Fem, Fair, Fat, Forty, Fertile...
• Environmental: increased estrogen, OCP, pregnancy, diabetes, obesity, rapid wt. loss.
• Acquired: bile stasis, infections, Haemolysis.
• Hereditary: ABCG8 gene mutation – sterol transporter