Gallstones
How do doctors diagnose gallstones?
A lot of other conditions can cause symptoms like the ones you get with gallstones. Your doctor will examine you and may do some tests to figure out what is causing your symptoms.
Here are some things your doctor will do to help tell if you have gallstones.
1
Source:
Fisher WE, Brunicardi CF.
Gallstones.
May 2002. Best Practice of Medicine. Available at http://merck.micromedex.com (accessed on 25 November 2008).
Fisher WE, Brunicardi CF.
Gallstones.
May 2002. Best Practice of Medicine. Available at http://merck.micromedex.com (accessed on 25 November 2008).
First, your doctor will ask you questions about the pain:
- Where does it hurt?
- How bad is it?
- How fast does it come on?
- How long does it last?
- Does anything bring it on?
- Does anything make it go away?
Then you will probably have a physical examination. Your doctor may:
- Look at your abdomen to see if it's stiff or bloated
- Feel your abdomen to see if it is sore
- Take your temperature to see if you have a
fever
If you have a fever, your body temperature is above 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius). With a fever you often get other symptoms, such as shivering, headache or sweating. A fever is usually caused by an infection.fever - Listen to your abdomen with a stethoscope to see if your bowel is making more or less noise than is normal.
Or you may be sent to a doctor who specializes in digestive problems. This may be a doctor called a gastroenterologist. The
specialist can set up your tests and see you for any care you need afterward.
If your doctor thinks your gallstones are causing
inflammation of your gallbladder or another problem, you will probably have to go to the hospital right away.
inflammation
If your skin or some other part of your body becomes red, swollen, hot or sore, we say it is inflamed. It means that your body is trying to protect you from germs, from something in your body tissues that can hurt you (like a thorn or sliver), or from things that cause allergies (allergens). Inflammation is part of the way the body heals an infection or injury.
If your skin or some other part of your body becomes red, swollen, hot or sore, we say it is inflamed. It means that your body is trying to protect you from germs, from something in your body tissues that can hurt you (like a thorn or sliver), or from things that cause allergies (allergens). Inflammation is part of the way the body heals an infection or injury.
The best test for gallstones is an
ultrasound scan.
2
3 This test uses sound waves to make a picture of your insides. It doesn't hurt.
ultrasound
Ultrasound is a tool doctors use to create images of the inside of your body. The ultrasound machine sends out high-frequency sound waves, which are directed at an area of your body through a device such as a probe. The waves reflect off parts of your body to create a picture. Ultrasound is often used to see a developing baby inside a woman's womb.
Ultrasound is a tool doctors use to create images of the inside of your body. The ultrasound machine sends out high-frequency sound waves, which are directed at an area of your body through a device such as a probe. The waves reflect off parts of your body to create a picture. Ultrasound is often used to see a developing baby inside a woman's womb.
Source:
Lee SP, Ko CW.
Gallstones.
In: Alpers D H, et al (editors). Textbook of gastroenterology. 4th edition. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, U.S.A.; 2003.
Lee SP, Ko CW.
Gallstones.
In: Alpers D H, et al (editors). Textbook of gastroenterology. 4th edition. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, U.S.A.; 2003.
Source:
Beckingham IJ.
ABC of diseases of liver, pancreas, and biliary system: gallstone disease.
BMJ. 2001; 322: 91-94.
Beckingham IJ.
ABC of diseases of liver, pancreas, and biliary system: gallstone disease.
BMJ. 2001; 322: 91-94.
Your doctor or a scanning specialist uses a tool that looks a bit like a microphone. He or she puts it on your abdomen. It
sends out and picks up sound waves.
The ultrasound machine turns the sound waves into a picture. The picture shows up on a screen.
If you have stones in your gallbladder or in any of the tubes (ducts) that carry bile, the stones will probably show up in
the picture. But very small ones may not show up.
Finding gallstones on your scan doesn't always mean they are the cause of your symptoms. But it will help your doctor figure out what is the cause.
For blood tests, a small amount of blood is taken from your arm. Then it is sent to a laboratory.
These tests don't directly tell if you have gallstones. But they can pick up some of the problems that gallstones can cause.
For example, these tests can show if:
- Your
liver
Your liver is a large organ that sits on the right side of your body, just below your rib cage. It does several important things, including processing and storing nutrients from food, and breaking down chemicals, such as alcohol.liver isn't working properly - You have an
infection
You get an infection when viruses, bacteria, fungi or other tiny organisms get into your body. These bugs are so tiny that you can't see them without a microscope. For example, an infection in your airways causes the common cold. And an infection in your skin can cause rashes such as athlete's foot.infection - You have waste products building up in your body (called jaundice)
- Your
pancreas
Your pancreas is an organ that's behind your stomach. It makes several different chemicals. Some of the chemicals help your body digest food. Your pancreas also makes a chemical called insulin, which helps your body use the sugar in your blood.pancreas isn't working properly.
X-ray
X-rays are pictures taken of the inside of your body. They are done by passing very small amounts of radiation through your body and onto film. X-rays can also be used as a treatment, such as in radiation therapy for cancer.
X-rays are pictures taken of the inside of your body. They are done by passing very small amounts of radiation through your body and onto film. X-rays can also be used as a treatment, such as in radiation therapy for cancer.
The X-ray doesn't hurt. You just lie on your back on a table and hold your breath while the picture is taken. You may need
to move or stand up for more pictures.
Your doctor may suggest a special X-ray called an oral cholecystogram. For this test, you take some pills ahead of time. They
make your bile show up on X-rays.
If your doctor thinks you might have gallstones that are causing problems, he or she may suggest some extra tests. For more,
see Other tests for gallstones.
Sources for the information on this page:
- Fisher WE, Brunicardi CF.Gallstones.May 2002. Best Practice of Medicine. Available at http://merck.micromedex.com (accessed on 25 November 2008).
- Lee SP, Ko CW.Gallstones.In: Alpers D H, et al (editors). Textbook of gastroenterology. 4th edition. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, U.S.A.; 2003.
- Beckingham IJ.ABC of diseases of liver, pancreas, and biliary system: gallstone disease.BMJ. 2001; 322: 91-94.
This information was last updated on May 12, 2009
This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2010. All rights reserved.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2010. All rights reserved.
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