The patient came to the radiology department for a routine lumbar spine study. However, the technologist noted a ringlike calcification in the right upper quadrant of the gallbladder area on the lateral radiograph (see Figure 1). The radiologist confirmed the calcification as consistent with cholelithiasis.Cholelithiasis is the presence of stones in the gallbladder. The name derives from chole meaning bile, lithia meaning stone, and -sis meaning process. Gallstones (choleliths) are crystalline bodies that can form anywhere within the biliary tree. A combination of factors can cause gallstones, including inherited body chemistry, being overweight, gallbladder motility (movement) and perhaps diet. Small gallstones usually are asymptomatic, but larger stones can cause obstruction of the common bile duct leading to choledocholithiasis, obstruction of the biliary tree. This can lead to jaundice or obstruction of the outlet of the pancreatic exocrine system, leading to pancreatitis.
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