Multiple common bile duct and gallbladder stones: A case report and literature review

Abstract

Common bile duct stones may be primary stones originating from the duct itself or secondary stones that have fallen out of the gallbladder. They can be single or multiple. Common bile duct stones are found in 15 % of a group of patients with gallbladder stones. Secondary stones are generally bilirubin and cholesterol stones. Primary bile duct stones occur at least 2 years after cholecystectomy. These stones are also bilirubin and cholesterol stones and calcium stones are rarely detected. In this patient presented here, sixty five stones nearly 10 mm were extracted from the common bile duct by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Previously, fourty four 10 mm stones and twenty two 5 mm to 10 mm stones had been removed during cholecystectomy. This case is interesting for multiple and large size calcium carbonate stones that are secondary, which in the common bile duct are usually encountered.