Gallstones. When to observe, when to treat
Marmon, L.; Ritchie, W.P.
Postgraduate Medicine 79(2): 181-4 187
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0032-5481 PMID: 3945594 Document Number: 268749
Although observation is the best form of therapy for patients with asymptomatic gallstones, surgical management offers the least risk and greatest benefit to patients with symptomatic disease. This is particularly true of patients with diabetes and patients over 60 years of age. Dissolution therapy may play a major role in the treatment of symptomatic cholesterol gallstones in the future, but at present the most effective approach remains early cholecystectomy.