The result of untreated gallstones – biliary colic About 20% of patients with “asymptomatic” gallbladder stones develop biliary colic each year. During asymptomatic intervals, the stones float around in the gallbladder, in which case the patient does not feel anything. Once the stones become lodged, the bile in the gallbladder does not flow out, causing the pressure in the gallbladder to rise and the gallbladder to expand, and the gallbladder has to contract more in order to discharge its bile. The rapid expansion and contraction of the gallbladder in a short period of time produces severe colic. This colic is often persistent and worsens in paroxysms, and in severe cases, shock or even life threatening. The result of untreated gallstones – various types of biliary inflammation (cholecystitis, cholangitis, pancreatitis) Gallstones are probably well known to cause cholecystitis. In addition, some small stones fall into the common bile duct and drain into the duodenum, and each time they fall into the common bile duct, they can damage the hepatopancreatic sphincter at the end of the common bile duct, which repeatedly causes narrowing of the end of the common bile duct and secondary choledocholithiasis and choledochogenic pancreatitis. Some large stones can become embedded and compress the gallbladder and its adjacent organs to form biliary fistula, such as gallbladder duodenal fistula, gallbladder transverse colon fistula, gallbladder common bile duct fistula, etc. The result of untreated gallstones – gallbladder cancer gallstones are the cause of gallbladder cancer. Chronic inflammation of the gallbladder and the stimulation of bile acid and choline in gallstones can easily cause cancerous changes in the mucosa of gallbladder. In the past, people were only familiar with gallstones and cholecystitis, but nowadays gallbladder cancer is also common, and gallbladder cancer patients often have gallstones, which proves that gallbladder cancer and gallstones are directly related, and some data show that about 0.5%-1% of gallbladder stones are complicated by gallbladder cancer. This situation leads to misdiagnosis from time to time, and some statistics show that the misdiagnosis rate can reach 79.5%. Often, gallbladder cancer is discovered only when gallstone surgery is performed, which is mostly late, with very poor outcome and most patients die within a year. If gallbladder cancer without metastasis can be diagnosed at an early stage and removed in time, the 5-year survival rate can reach 92%. Prevention should be the main focus of any cancer, and early detection and treatment should be achieved. At present, it is believed that preventive cholecystectomy should be considered for gallstones larger than 3 cm in diameter and age over 50 years, especially for women.