Gallstones are pieces of solid material that form in the gallbladder. These stones develop because cholesterol and pigments in bile sometimes form hard particles.Gallstones are usually treated with surgery to take out the gallbladder. Biliary sludge is a mixture of particulate matter and mucous that forms in bile. read more
Sludge in the gallbladder is not typical in the general population; however, women are at greater risk than men, and Native Americans seem to have more gallbladder problems than do other ethnic groups. Diabetes and pregnancy are other factors that can increase a person’s risk of developing sludge in the gallbladder. read more
Sludge is a common term for an abnormality of bile seen with ultrasonography of the gallbladder. Specifically, the bile within the gallbladder is seen to be of two different densities, with the denser bile on the bottom. read more