title: Gallstone disease: Symptoms and diagnosis of gallbladder stones.
abstract: The clinical aspects and the diagnostic features of gallstone disease are described. The natural history of silent gallstones is overviewed, and the risk of developing symptoms and complications is also discussed. The importance of colicky pain as a specific gallstone symptom is highlighted, and the role of both laboratory tests and diagnostic investigations for differential diagnosis is discussed. Finally, we describe the diagnostic features of gallbladder stone disease, including indications, sensitivity, specificity, and limitations of different test investigations under special circumstances.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Medica A. Murri, Department of Internal and Public Medicine, University of Bari Medical School, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11-Policlinico-70124 Bari, Italy. p.portincasa@semeiotica.uniba.it
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Portincasa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moschetta
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petruzzelli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palasciano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Ciaula
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pezzolla
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001646:Bile / Q000737:chemistry; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D049448:Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance; D002764:Cholecystitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003085:Colic / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D042882:Gallstones / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography