Etymed
cholelithiasis
Definition
The formation or presence of gallstones in the gallbladder or bile ducts
Clinical context
A 45-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with severe right upper quadrant pain that started after eating a fatty meal. She reports nausea and has been vomiting for the past 3 hours. Physical examination reveals tenderness in the right upper quadrant with a positive Murphy's sign. An ultrasound shows multiple echogenic foci with acoustic shadowing in the gallbladder. The patient is diagnosed with cholelithiasis and scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Mnemonic
GALL stones form in the GALLBLADDER - Remember 'GALL' for gallstones in the gallbladder