How to Determine the Size of Gallstones

Gallstones are hardened lumps made from either excess cholesterol or excess bilirubin. They vary in size from very small (about the size of a grain of sand) to quite large, to quite large (the size of a golf ball). Many instances of gallstones do no require treatment; whether or not treatment is required is not necessarily related to size.

Things You'll Need

• doctor's appointment
• ultrasound scan
• CT scan
• contrast x-ray
• endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)

Show More

Instructions

Determining Gallstone Size and Possible Problems

• 1

  See your doctor if you are experiencing symptoms of gallstones. Symptoms include pain (often intense) in your right abdomen, under your sternum, or in your back (between your shoulder blades).

  Gallstones may also cause a fever or jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes). If you have jaundice or a high fever, you should seek medical treatment immediately.

• 2

  Your doctor will prescribe tests to determine if you have gallstones. Some tests, such as a CT or ultrasound scan, will also show the size and location of the gallstones.

  Some other tests, such as an endoscopy, are used to see if there are stones in your bile ducts; stones outside the gallbladder can cause blockages that can be serious.

• 3

  Work with your doctor to determine if treatment is needed. It is important to remember that the size of your gallstones does not matter for this step. What is important is to determine whether or not your gallstones are causing problems.

  Treatments include surgery to remove your gallbladder or medications to dissolve your gallstones. If you have surgery, your gallstones' size can also be determined through physical measurement after your gallbladder is removed.

• 4

  Talk with your doctor about other considerations. Some studies have found that the size of gallstones may be correlated with the risk of gallbladder cancer. Larger stones may be a risk factor for this type of cancer. Any images taken of your gallbladder can help your doctor determine the size of the stones.