Types of Gallstones

Gallstones are grouped by what they are made of and by how they behave. Knowing the type helps doctors judge the cause and the risk.

By composition

• Cholesterol stones: yellow-green, made mostly of hardened cholesterol. They make up most gallstones in the Indian and Western population.
• Pigment stones: small and dark, made of bilirubin. Black pigment stones are linked to blood disorders and cirrhosis. Brown pigment stones are linked to bile duct infection.
• Mixed stones: contain both cholesterol and pigment, the most frequent pattern.

By number and size

• A single large stone
• Many small stones, sometimes called gallbladder sludge or microlithiasis when very fine

Small stones can pass into the bile duct more easily and may cause more complications than a few large ones.

By location

• Gallbladder stones: in the gallbladder itself
• Bile duct stones: in the common bile duct, which can cause jaundice, infection or pancreatitis

By symptoms

• Silent stones: found by chance, no treatment needed
• Symptomatic stones: cause colic or complications and usually need treatment

Ayurvedic term

Gallstones are sometimes discussed under the term Pittashmari. This is an interpretive link, and modern imaging is how stones are actually identified.

Why the type matters

Cholesterol stones are often tied to weight, diet and hormones, while pigment stones point towards blood or liver conditions that need their own investigation. Your doctor may order extra tests if pigment stones are suspected. Treatment of symptomatic stones is generally the same: removal of the gallbladder.