Gallstone Ileus: Clinical Presentation and Radiological Diagnosis

The term "gallstone ileus" refers to intestinal obstruction brought on by a gallstone lodged within its lumen. The gallstone travels through a fistula that develops because of the constant pressure it exerts on the gall bladder. The symptoms are vague and confounding which can commonly lead to delay in diagnosis. The preferred imaging technique is a computed tomography scan. The diagnosis is confirmed by the identification of Rigler's Triad on a CT scan, which includes a small intestinal obstruction, pneumobilia, and an ectopic stone in the intestine. The condition is associated with several complications and needs to be treated with emergency surgery. This case demonstrates how a patient could have non-specific symptoms and how early detection by imaging was crucial to the patient's treatment.