Pathogenesis of cholesterol gallstones.

Cholesterol gallstone disease is extremely common. Three major stages are recognized for stone formation, namely bile that becomes supersaturated with cholesterol, cholesterol nucleation leading to crystal formation and finally retention of the crystals in the gallbladder resulting in stone formation. Supersaturation is common but nucleation into crystals probably requires protein nucleating factors. Impaired motility of the gallbladder causes crystal retention and is probably very important in stone formation.