HomeAnswersMedical Gastroenterologycholelithiasis

Will untreated asymptomatic gallstones cause future issues?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

I am 35 years old with a weight of 101 lbs. I have a gallbladder stone of 18 mm and my common bile duct is 3 mm. This stone was 12 mm before seven years and it has grown up now. I do not have any severe pain and I have a positive murphy sign. My ultrasound shows on and off mild wall thickening. I am terrified of my surgery.

Will I have to remove my gall bladder in the future if I am not undergoing surgery now? I have a history of PVCs and SVT. I am not taking any medication for now but I am taking Omeprazole 20 mg for the discomfort present in my tummy. I have planned to remove my gallbladder in two weeks. But I can eat everything and I do not have pain. Do you think whether it is good to undergo surgery without having a major attack? I think that my stone has taken a lot of space in my gallbladder. Do I need to remove it? Will it cause issues in the future if I leave it now?

Answered by Dr. Ajeet Kumar

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Ajeet Kumar is a dedicated Physician specializing in gastrointestinal and liver disorders. He focuses on diagnosing and managing a wide range of digestive conditions with a patient-centered and evidence-based approach. His clinical interest includes promoting long-term digestive wellness through accurate evaluation, timely intervention, and personalized care, ensuring patients receive comprehensive support for their overall health and well-being.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern. Stones presenting in the gall bladder causes pain. It is of moderate to severe intensity and it starts after taking meals. It remains for one to six hours and tends to recur again. The pain is located on the right subcoastal margin. When there is chronic cholecystitis with thickened walls, the gall bladder shrinks causing pain. In some conditions, gall bladder stone presents with polyps. You can also have asymptomatic gall stones with a stone size of more than two centimeters. In your case, you have evidence of chronic cholecystitis with a stone size of more than two centimeters. You should undergo surgery now. You have a risk of developing gall bladder cancer as the stone size is more than two centimeters. Cholecystitis also increases the risk of gall bladder cancer. This is the main reason to undergo surgery now.

The Probable causes

You have asymptomatic gall bladder stones.

Treatment plan

You need to remove the gall bladder.

Regarding follow up

Have a follow up at any time regarding the progress.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Sneha Kannan
Published At September 30, 2020
Reviewed At July 22, 2026

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Ajeet Kumar is a dedicated Physician specializing in gastrointestinal and liver disorders. He focuses on diagnosing and managing a wide range of digestive conditions with a patient-centered and evidence-based approach. His clinical interest includes promoting long-term digestive wellness through accurate evaluation, timely intervention, and personalized care, ensuring patients receive comprehensive support for their overall health and well-being.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Education:

BDS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Sneha Kannan is a skilled Dental Surgeon with expertise in providing general dental care, including scaling, fillings, and preventive treatments. She does oral surgery procedures such as extractions and minor surgical interventions. She does procedures in restorative dentistry, including crowns, bridges, and dentures. She is an expert in doing endodontic treatments such as root canal therapy. She is well-versed in doing procedures in cosmetic dentistry, including teeth whitening and smile correction. She can provide pediatric dental care for children’s oral health and preventive treatments. She promotes oral hygiene awareness and preventive dental practices.  

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Ajeet Kumar is a dedicated Physician specializing in gastrointestinal and liver disorders. He focuses on diagnosing and managing a wide range of digestive conditions with a patient-centered and evidence-based approach. His clinical interest includes promoting long-term digestive wellness through accurate evaluation, timely intervention, and personalized care, ensuring patients receive comprehensive support for their overall health and well-being.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Listen to related tracks in our music library
Comprehensive Second Opinion

Read answers about:

cholelithiasissurgery

Ask your health query to a doctor online

*guaranteed answer within 4 hours

Disclaimer: No content published on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice or treatment by a trained physician. Seek advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with questions you may have regarding your symptoms and medical condition for a complete medical diagnosis. Do not delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website. Read our Editorial Process to know how we create content for health articles and queries.