Gallstones.

Preview Gallstones, already estimated to occur in 1 of every 10 Americans, may be even more common than that, since many stones are asymptomatic and discovered only incidentally. In an effort to avoid the expense of surgery and the recovery period afterward, investigators have developed pharmacologic, radiographic, and other nonsurgical treatment methods, which continue to be refined. Dr Jaffe summarizes these alternatives, patient selection, success rates, and posttreatment recurrence.