title: [Choledocholithiasis: etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis].
abstract: Cholelithiasis is one of the basic pathologies of the digestive apparatus. A certain progress in the study of biliary production and excretion processes has been achieved for the past two decades. This contributed to a deeper understanding of causes and factors promoting the formation of the lithogenic bile. Possibilities for cholelithiasis diagnostics (including precholelithiatic stages) have greatly expanded. The ultrasound method, which is quite efficient for diagnostics of cholecystolithiasis, has become a basic method of cholelithiasis diagnostics. Nevertheless, the course of cholelithiasis is not restricted to the formation of gallstones only. In 5-20% of cases cholecystolithiasis is combined with choledocholithiasis. The latest literature data related to problems of choledocholithiasis etiology, pathogenesis and diagnostics are given in this review of literature.
authors.affiliation: Central Scientific Research Institute of Gastroenterology, Moscow.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Il'chenko
authors.forename: E V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Bystrovskaia
mesh_terms: D019160:Endosonography; D042882:Gallstones / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging