Spontaneous gallstone migration followed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography

A case in which a medium-sized common bile duct stone spontaneously passed through the papilla into the duodenum is presented. The naturel course of this patient was followed by repeated endoscopic retrograde cholangiography. Acute ulcerous changes caused by the passage of a gallstone and a surprisingly quick recovery are demonstrated by vivid illustrations. The clinical significance of the phenomenon with regard to the patulous sphincter of Oddi or, in contrast, papillary stenosis, is discussed.