Cholecystolithiasis has an enormous clinical and socioeconomic
impact due to its high prevalence and the risk to develop
severe complications. 80% of persons with gallstones are
asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis. After a first episode of
biliary symptoms, about 70% of patients will experience recurrent
biliary symptoms within 2 years, and 1-2% per year
will develop biliary complications. The diagnosis of gallstone
disease is made on the basis of the patient's history, a physical
examination, an abdominal ultrasound, and laboratory
tests to exclude complications such as cholecystitis, cholangitis,
choledocholithiasis, and pancreatitis. Asymptomatic cholecystolithiasis
is usually not treated. Exceptions are a porcelain
gallbladder, simultaneous gallbladder polyps ‡ 10 mm,
and gallstones > 3 cm due to the enhanced risk to develop
gallbladder carcinoma. In addition, prophylactic cholecystectomy
may be considered in asymptomatic patients undergoing
heart transplantation or surgery for morbid obesity.
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy represents the first-line treatment
of symptomatic cholecystolithiasis. Nonsurgical treatment
with ursodeoxycholic acid should only be considered in
patients with small (£ 5(-10) mm), mildly symptomatic gallbladder
stones in a functioning gallbladder when surgery is
refused by the patient, surgical risk is high, or surgery is impossible.
Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy of gallbladder
stones is not recommended any more considering recurrence
rates of 50-80% after 10 years.