Cholecystolithiasis

Cholelithiasis is the most common lesion in the biliary system. Depending on the location, it can be classified as gallbladder stones, primary or secondary common bile duct stones, extrahepatic bile duct stones, or intrahepatic bile duct stones. Clinically, however, stones in a single location are possible but not common; often, stones in several locations coexist in the same patient. In European and American countries, gallstones in patients with cholelithiasis mostly occur in the gallbladder, with only a few cases (10%–25%) being primary bile duct stones. However, in East Asian and Southeast Asian countries, including China, especially in the vast coastal areas of China, the majority of gallstones (50%–90%) are primary pigment stones of the bile ducts. Stones in different locations generally have obvious differences in shape, size, and composition, so it can be inferred that their formation mechanisms are also different, and the clinical symptoms and pathological manifestations will vary from person to person.