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Test overview
Most "silent" gallstones are discovered when patients are undergoing other tests, often X-rays or imaging studies for other health problems. When someone is in pain as a result of gallstones, diagnosis is important, because the symptoms of a gallstone attack are similar to those of heart attack, appendicitis, ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, and other serious disorders.
If someone goes to a doctor with pain and tenderness in the upper right portion of the abdomen, beneath the ribs, inflammation of the gallbladder is one likely cause. Routine laboratory tests may show elevated white blood cell counts if an infection is present. Elevation of liver and pancreatic enzymes may indicate inflammation of the gallbladder or ducts. But, generally, physicians rely on several other tests to accurately diagnose gallstones.
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