CHOLELITHIASIS - This term refers to the presence of gallstones inside the gallbladder. Roughly 8 to 10% of the general population have gallstones, but the incidence in higher in Native Americans and Hispanics. Approximately 5 to 10% of these patients will become symptomatic from their gallstones each year. In most cases, this condition remains asymptomatic until a gallstone becomes trapped in the neck of the gallbladder or within the bile duct (choledocholithiasis). At this point inflammation of the gallbladder or cholecystitis can occur. Risk factors for cholelithiasis include: short gut syndrome, multiple births, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, cirrhosis, sickle cell anemia, hereditary spherocytosis, prosthetic heart valves, biliary parasites, rapid weight loss, childhood cancer, Native American descent, diabetes, and female gender.