Evaluation of Patients Suspected of Common Bile Duct Stone

Common bile duct stones (CBDS) are estimated to be present in 10–20% of individuals with symptomatic gallstones. Most patients with gallstones remain asymptomatic throughout their lifetime, but 10–25% of them may develop biliary pain or complications including pain, jaundice, infection and acute pancreatitis, with an annual risk of about 2–3% for symptomatic disease and 1–2% for major complications. The primary treatment, endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pacreatography (ERCP), is minimally invasive but associated with adverse events in 6% to 15% of patients. Therefore, exact evaluation of CBDS is important in patients with gallstones. Clinicians are therefore confronted with a number of potentially valid options such as endoscopic ultrasonography versus magnetic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in order to diagnose suspected CBDS. The aim of this review for evaluation of patients suspected of common bile duct stone is to provide practical advice on how to manage patients with CBDS. It considers diagnostic strategies in patients with suspected CBDS, as well as the different therapeutic options available for CBDS.