[Gallstone ileus: diagnosis and treatment. Case report].

The authors present a case of gallstone intermittent ileus caused by the passage of a big gallstone (about 4 cm in diameter) in the intestinal lumen, through a cholecystoduodenal fistula. They emphasize the peculiarity of the case for the characteristics of symptoms and for casual diagnostic check-up with a ultrasonography. The disease is not frequently diagnosed; today it has a safe recognition by modern imaging. The symptoms can be intermittent and, even when there are the classic signs of intestinal occlusion, the site of the occlusion is various. With a timely endoscopical or surgical approach (open or laparoscopic) it is possible to reduce mortality of patients treated in emergency.