Cracking the silent gallstone code: Wait or operate?

Table 1 Patients at high risk of symptom conversion or complication

Patient-related	Gall stones/gall bladder related
Age < 55 yr	Calculi > 2 cm in diameter
Female	Three or more gallstones
Smoking	Floating stones
High BMI	Calculi < 3 mm with patent cystic duct
Transplant patients (before or during transplantation)	Non-functioning GB
Chronic hemolytic conditions (e.g., sickle cell anemia)
Diabetes mellitus

GB: Gallbladder; BMI: Body mass index.

Table 2 Patients at risk of gallbladder cancer

Gallstones associated polyps > 1 cm

Calcified GB (?)

Gallstones > 3 cm

GB packed with stones

Ethnic groups in high-incidence GBC areas:

Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in North India

American Indians

Mexican Americans

Residents of Chile, Colombia, and Bolivia

GB: Gallbladder; GBC: Gallbladder cancer.