Gallstones can be screened, detected early?

The article is professionally consulted by Master. BSCK II Phan Thi Minh Huong - Gastroenterologist - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Da Nang International General Hospital.

About 70% of cases of gallstones have no specific symptoms. Most patients detect the disease through abdominal ultrasound during general physical examination. Screening for gallstones helps to detect early and avoid complications.

The risk of gallstones increases with age. Although the disease still occurs in men, statistics show that postpartum women ≥ 35 years old are more susceptible to the disease. In addition, a person who is overweight or obese is often twice as likely to develop gallstones. Specifically, patients should undergo screening for gallstones if they are in the following groups:
Age: Middle-aged, 35-40 years old or older Gender: Both men and women, especially women : Overweight, obesity, regular use of estrogen-containing birth control pills or multiple births (for women) Female hormones affect fat absorption, so older women will start to lose weight. The head accumulates a lot of fat and cholesterol. This is a favorable factor for the formation of gallstones. In Vietnam today, thanks to the widespread application of abdominal ultrasound in diagnosis or general examination, the detection rate of simple gallbladder stones has increased significantly.

2.1. Symptoms Gallstones usually have no specific symptoms, but if they do, abdominal pain at the site of the bile is typical. Gallstone colic can be distinguished from other causes by the following characteristics:
Timing: Bile colic usually occurs after eating, especially when consuming fatty foods, or pain nocturnal awakening of the patient Cycle: Pain lasts for a while, from a few minutes to hours, then stops completely and then recurs in episodes Location: Commonly occurs in the epigastrium or right upper abdomen, easily confused with peptic ulcer. Severity: The patient may stop breathing because of the severe pain Other signs often associated with gallstones include back pain, pain in the upper and left side of the abdomen, nausea and vomiting, bloating and indigestion when eat a lot of fat.
2.2. Complications Common complications of gallstones include acute cholecystitis, cholangitis, and acute pancreatitis. The cause of these conditions is that stones from the gallbladder fall out and get stuck there, causing obstruction and inflammation. These are very serious complications, requiring emergency treatment by surgical intervention to remove stones in time.
In addition, when gallstones are larger than 25mm, accompanied by polyps and calcified gallbladder, gallbladder cancer will form. Since about 70% of gallstone diseases are asymptomatic, the disease often progresses insidiously, leading to delayed diagnosis. Therefore, gallstone screening and regular gallstone examination play a very important role in limiting serious complications in general, as well as minimizing the risk of gallbladder cancer.

Every year, there are still some cases of gallstone disease detected when it is already in the complicated stage without experiencing any symptoms. Therefore, middle-aged people, especially women and/or overweight, should proactively prevent and screen for gallstones even if they have not noticed any unusual health problems.
Some tips to prevent gallstones from forming and developing, as well as avoiding diagnosis at a late stage include:
Balance diet, keep weight at a reasonable level Limit foods have a lot of cholesterol such as skin, organs, eggs... Add green vegetables and fruits to daily meals Eat at the right time, right meals to help bile work in moderation Pay attention to hygiene in eating to reduce exposure helminth infections Take regular antihelminthic drugs Check and treat digestive problems General health exam every 6 months with ultrasound After gallstone examination and diagnosis, doctors recommend that the patient Patients do not need cholecystectomy to prevent complications if there are no symptoms of severe biliary colic. Drugs to dissolve gallstones or shock wave lithotripsy are the most commonly prescribed options for early-stage gallstones. In contrast, in case the patient has the typical pain of gallstones, has polyps and gall bladder warning of cancer, or has diabetes or cardiovascular syndrome, surgery can be performed. The decision to have a stone removed or a laparoscopic cholecystectomy will depend on the severity and condition of the disease.
In summary, gallstones can be completely screened and detected early through simple abdominal ultrasound steps. Because the disease often progresses silently and rarely shows symptoms, subjects in the group of risk factors for the disease should proactively check gallstones periodically to closely monitor their own health status.
Currently, the Hepatobiliary Screening package deployed by Vinmec International General Hospital will check, monitor and evaluate your liver health status on your behalf. With a team of doctors who are highly qualified and experienced professionals, with the support of advanced machinery systems and professional services, customers participating in the package will enjoy medical benefits. The best health care, comprehensive protection of liver and gallbladder health for yourself and your loved ones.
Doctor Huong has over 30 years of experience in the field of Gastroenterology, in which with nearly 20 years holding the position of Deputy Department, Head of Department of Hue Central Hospital. Currently, he is a Doctor of Gastroenterology - Gastrointestinal Endoscopy - General Internal Medicine Department of Vinmec Da Nang International General Hospital.