Types Of Gallbladder Disease

Gallstones, Gallbladder Attacks and Gallbladder Cancer

Types of gallbladder disease are generally known to most people. The most common include gallstones, the gallbladder attack and gallbladder cancer. This page is designed to give you a basic understanding of these types of gallbladder disease.

The most common of the various gallbladder disease types is gallstones. Chances are you’ve heard of someone or knew someone with gallstones or even had them yourself. 

There are two different types of gallstones:

• Cholesterol stones
• Pigment stones

Four out of five people with gallstones have cholesterol stones. This occurs when you get too much cholesterol in your gallbladder. The extra cholesterol causes a problem because it hardens into greenish-yellow or white pebbles. Some people have one large stone and others will experience multiple smaller stones. In fact, some gallstones can be as fine as a grain of sand.

Pigment stones are different from cholesterol stones but can cause the same problems. This type of stone happens when red blood cells break down in the body. The small, dark stone of a pigment stone is made from bilirubin, which is part of the bile that is stored in the gallbladder.

It is also possible for a person to have both types of stones at the same time or a combination of both types. But gallstones are not the only problems that can occur with the gallbladder. Another problem is gallbladder infection.

A gallbladder attack is another problem and this occurs when the gallbladder becomes inflamed. This can cause pain in the upper right side of the chest and sometimes between the shoulder blades. While it’s not really considered a disease in itself, it is an indication that something else could be wrong with the gallbladder.

Another of the gallbladder disease types is gallbladder cancer. This is a cancer that starts in either the gallbladder itself or the bile duct. This is a relatively uncommon type of cancer and is usually treated by removing the gallbladder.

If you suspect that you have one of these gallbladder disease types, or if your doctor has recently diagnosed you with gallbladder disease, it’s important to learn as much as you can about types of gallbladder disease and possible treatment options.