The presence of Mercedes Benz sign in radiological findings (computed tomography or CT of the abdomen) may indicate gallstones in the belly. Mercedes Benz sign is a collection of nitrogen gas among the stones. This gas fills spaces created by the shrinking of cholesterol crystals in the stone. They usually radiate like points of stars that appear like the Mercedes Benz sign in radiological findings. The Mercedes Benz sign is usually detected in patients with cholelithiasis, which is a severe disease that is characterized by the swelling over the gallbladder as well as the formation of stones (gallstones) in the gallbladder and bile ducts.
What are the signs and symptoms of cholelithiasis?
The common signs and symptoms of cholelithiasis may include:
- Patients complain of pain just below the ribs and over the right side of the belly. The pain aggravates after overfeeding or intake of foods, such as fatty meats, fatty, and fried food, chocolate and liquor, highly carbonated drinks.
- Nausea and vomiting
- Bad taste in the mouth
- The pain may often radiate to the back or right shoulder
- Belching
- Possible jaundice
- Fever
- Dark urine
- White feces (these symptoms are the result of blocking the flow of bile from the gall stones)
The majority of patients are at risk of recurrence of symptoms or onset of complications:
- Acute cholecystitis: Swelling of the gallbladder.
- Chronic cholecystitis/porcelain gallbladder: May lead to cancer of the gallbladder.
- Acute cholangitis: Swelling of ducts in liver and intestine.
- Jaundice: Condition in which the skin, whites of the eyes, and mucous membranes turn yellow because of a high level of bilirubin.
- Gallbladder cancer: Gallstones are the main etiological factor of carcinoma of the gallbladder.
What are the different types of gallstones?
The different types of stones in cholelithiasis are:
- Cholesterol stones
- They occur in 10% of all types of stones.
- Macroscopically they have a spherical or oval shape. They are more often single, and their size reaches 5 cm in diameter. Their color is white or pale yellow.
- Bilirubin stones
- They occur in approximately 15% of patients with cholelithiasis.
- Macroscopically they contain some calcium, which gives them their characteristic hardness. They are numerous and faceted with sharp edges.
- Their color is dark green to greenish-red.
- They reach a size of 10 mm in diameter.
- Mixed
- They are detected in 75% of cases of cholelithiasis.
- Macroscopically they may be single, but they more frequently occur as multiple stones.
- Their size rarely exceeds 1 cm in diameter.
- Their color is greenish, whitish-yellow to black, depending on which of the constituent components dominate.
- Their surface is fine-grained. They have a firm texture.
- In section, a shell is visible with brown-red color with caramel core radial structure of cholesterol.
- By section of other stones, a concentrically lamellar structure can be seen. They are composed of bilirubin, cholesterol, and calcium.
QUESTION
See AnswerWhat are the treatment options for cholelithiasis?
The treatment options of cholelithiasis may include:
- Asymptomatic cholelithiasis: Unless the individual shows symptoms like pain or develops complications, there is no need for treatment. "Porcelain gallbladder" is an exception, which needs surgery because of the increased risk of developing cancer.
- Frontline cholelithiasis: After the onset of symptoms, they tend to recur. In these patients, there is a risk for the occurrence of complications. Consequently, most patients with symptoms of gallstones should be treated.
- Gallstones often occur in patients with other diseases. Therefore, in patients with gallstones and atypical pain or dyspepsia diagnosis should be clarified.
- Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (bloodless removal of the gallbladder) provides a safe and effective treatment for symptomatic gallstones. Indeed, it is the treatment of choice in these patients. This method avoids larger incisions on the abdominal wall, so there are no complaints regarding the abdominal wound and no concerns of scar formation. The mobilization of the patient is faster, the risk of unwanted events is limited, and the hospital stay is shorter.
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Can Gallstones Go Away on Their Own?
The bile contents may sometimes crystallize and form gallstones. If there are no symptoms, a regular follow-up would suffice. Natural remedies and medical management may prevent worsening of the condition. Treatment is necessary if the stones cause pain or swelling of the gallbladder. Surgery may be required if nonsurgical treatments fail or there is a high risk of complications.Common Medical Abbreviations & Terms
Doctors, pharmacists, and other health-care professionals use abbreviations, acronyms, and other terminology for instructions and information in regard to a patient's health condition, prescription drugs they are to take, or medical procedures that have been ordered. There is no approved this list of common medical abbreviations, acronyms, and terminology used by doctors and other health- care professionals. You can use this list of medical abbreviations and acronyms written by our doctors the next time you can't understand what is on your prescription package, blood test results, or medical procedure orders. Examples include:
- ANED: Alive no evidence of disease. The patient arrived in the ER alive with no evidence of disease.
- ARF: Acute renal (kidney) failure
- cap: Capsule.
- CPAP: Continuous positive airway pressure. A treatment for sleep apnea.
- DJD: Degenerative joint disease. Another term for osteoarthritis.
- DM: Diabetes mellitus. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- HA: Headache
- IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease. A name for two disorders of the gastrointestinal (BI) tract, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
- JT: Joint
- N/V: Nausea or vomiting.
- p.o.: By mouth. From the Latin terminology per os.
- q.i.d.: Four times daily. As in taking a medicine four times daily.
- RA: Rheumatoid arthritis
- SOB: Shortness of breath.
- T: Temperature. Temperature is recorded as part of the physical examination. It is one of the "vital signs."
Gallstones
Gallstones are stones that form when substances in the bile harden. Gallstones (formed in the gallbladder) can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. There can be just one large stone, hundreds of tiny stones, or any combination. The majority of gallstones do not cause signs or symptoms; however, when they do occur the primary sign is biliary colic. Symptoms of biliary colic are constant pain for 15 minutes to 4-5 hours, and it may vary in intensity; nausea, severe pain that does not worsen with movement; and pain beneath the sternum. Treatment of gallstones depends upon the patient and the clinical situation.Gallstones Quiz
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