Gallbladder Stone Diagnosis and Presentation

Clinical Signs and Symptoms

The American College of Radiology recommends considering episodic, severe upper abdominal pain in the epigastrium and/or right upper quadrant as a characteristic sign of gallbladder stones, often associated with nausea and vomiting 1
The World Journal of Emergency Surgery notes that right upper quadrant pain and tenderness are common in acute cholecystitis, a complication of gallstone disease 2
Fever is a significant indicator of infection or inflammation in gallstone disease, as reported by the Journal of the American College of Radiology and the World Journal of Emergency Surgery 1, 2
Murphy's sign, characterized by focal tenderness when palpating the gallbladder area, is a diagnostic clue for acute cholecystitis, according to the Journal of the American College of Radiology and the World Journal of Emergency Surgery 1, 2, 3
Anorexia is a symptom that may be associated with gallstone disease, as mentioned by the Journal of the American College of Radiology 1

Ultrasound findings that support the diagnosis of gallbladder stones include gallstones visualized on ultrasound, gallbladder wall thickening and edema, pericholecystic fluid, and a distended gallbladder, as reported by the Journal of the American College of Radiology and the World Journal of Emergency Surgery 1, 2, 3
Sonographic Murphy's sign, although with relatively low specificity, can be a useful diagnostic tool, according to the Journal of the American College of Radiology 1, 3
Elevated bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, and GGT levels may indicate biliary obstruction, as suggested by Gut and the World Journal of Emergency Surgery 4, 7
Leukocytosis can be a sign of acute cholecystitis or cholangitis, as noted by the World Journal of Emergency Surgery 7

Common bile duct stones can cause epigastric or right upper quadrant pain associated with jaundice and/or fever, as reported by Gut 4
Jaundice, resulting from bile duct obstruction, is a significant symptom of common bile duct stones, according to Gut 4
Acute pancreatitis can be a presentation of gallstone disease, with gallstones causing up to 50% of acute pancreatitis cases, as mentioned by Gut 4