Gallstones over 3mm risky if ignored: Experts

Lucknow: Gallstones larger than 3 millimetres should not be taken lightly, as delayed treatment could lead to serious complications, including cancer, said experts at KGMU on Saturday. Department chairperson Prof Abhinav Arun Sonkar said patients often ignored gallstones when they did not experience pain. He said, "Even small stones can cause persistent inflammation and infection. Long-standing inflammation may trigger abnormal cellular changes in gallbladder, raising cancer risk."He said ultrasound imaging helped determine size, number and location of gallstones. Patients diagnosed with stones larger than 3mm should immediately seek specialist consultation to prevent long-term complications, he added. Prof Akshay Anand said diabetics faced a higher risk of developing gallstones due to elevated cholesterol levels. "High cholesterol contributes to formation of pale, shiny stones. Nearly 70% of patients with raised cholesterol may develop gallstones," he noted and added symptoms like abdominal pain appeared only as condition advances, leading many to dismiss it as routine digestive trouble. Prof H S Pahwa advised those with recurrent upper abdominal pain or persistent indigestion to undergo evaluation. Prof Sonkar said on the department's foundation day, multi-specialty surgical conference covering plastic, vascular, thoracic, trauma, and oncological surgery was planned from Feb 17 to 20.