title: A primer on gallstones.
abstract: Gallstones may now be diagnosed by means of duodenal bile analysis, ultrasonography, oral cholecystography, cholescintigraphy, and cholecystography during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Dissolution or removal of stones can be achieved with oral pharmacotherapy with bile acid derivatives, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, infusion of either methyl tertbutyl ether or monooctanoin (Moctanin), percutaneous transhepatic removal, endoscopic sphincterotomy, or the traditional surgical procedure, cholecystectomy.
authors.affiliation: Palo Alto Medical Clinic, CA 94301.
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Babb
mesh_terms: D002765:Cholecystography; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000032:analysis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008096:Lithotripsy; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography