[Rationales for the selection of the therapies for gallstones]

Surgical cholecystectomy used to be the only definitive method of gallstone treatment. Recently, however, there have been greatly advancing in the therapies for gallstones, which comprise oral or topical litholysis, lithotripsies with shock wave or endoscopical techniques, and laparoscopical cholecystectomy. Some factors must be considered in selecting the method for the treatment of gallstones, such as; well-understanding of the physiology and the pathophysiology of gallbladder (stones), precise US tomography, the effects of diet, and especially the patient's performance status, patient's profile and informed consent.