Gallstones
Read Your Scan Editorial Team·Last updated
Written from published radiology references and reviewed for plain language. Not written or signed by a physician, and not a diagnosis. How we write these pages →
In plain language
Stones within the gallbladder. Many people have them without symptoms. Your doctor considers whether they relate to how you feel.
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Where you'll see this
This wording turns up on Abdominal CT reports — CT imaging of the abdomen. An abdominal CT shows the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, bowel, blood vessels, and lymph nodes in fine detail. Doctors order it for abdominal pain, to look into a suspected stone, infection, or blockage, or to check known findings. Because it is so detailed, it often notes small, harmless things by chance. The report describes what the images show; your doctor reads it together with your symptoms and other results.
It also appears on Abdominal Ultrasound.
Questions worth asking your doctor
- What was the main reason for this CT, and did it answer that question?
- Were any findings incidental, and do any of them need follow-up?
- If a stone or cyst was seen, does it need treatment or monitoring?
- Do the results change my current care or medications?
- Is there anything I can do about findings like fatty liver?
How common is this?
Gallstones are one of the most common abdominal findings, present in roughly 10-15% of adults in Western populations, and are frequently discovered incidentally on imaging done for other reasons. Many people with gallstones never experience symptoms, a state often referred to as "silent" gallstones.
When should I worry?
Silent gallstones found incidentally typically require no treatment and can simply be noted. Symptoms to watch for include episodes of right upper abdominal pain after meals (biliary colic), especially with nausea or vomiting. Severe persistent pain, fever, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes) are urgent symptoms suggesting a complication like cholecystitis or a blocked bile duct.
What happens next
Asymptomatic gallstones are generally left alone with no follow-up needed. If you develop biliary colic, your doctor will likely discuss elective cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal), which is one of the most commonly performed surgeries and is usually done laparoscopically with a short recovery. Complications are treated more urgently.
Frequently asked questions
- Do gallstones always need to be removed?
- No, gallstones that aren't causing symptoms usually don't need treatment. Surgery is typically recommended only when stones cause recurrent pain or complications. Your doctor will help weigh the risks and benefits based on your specific situation.
- Can I dissolve gallstones with medication or diet?
- Oral medications to dissolve gallstones exist but work slowly, only on certain stone types, and stones often recur. Dietary changes can reduce the frequency of symptoms but don't eliminate existing stones. Surgery remains the definitive treatment when needed.
- What does a gallstone attack feel like?
- A typical episode (biliary colic) involves steady, intense pain in the right upper abdomen or between the shoulder blades, often after a fatty meal, lasting 30 minutes to several hours. Nausea and vomiting are common. If pain lasts more than a few hours or comes with fever, seek medical attention.
Other words on the same report
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Read Your Scan is informational only — not a medical diagnosis, and not a substitute for a licensed radiologist or your doctor. If you have urgent symptoms, seek care.