Cholesterol stones

• Pure (100%) Cholesterol stones:

  Macroscopic features:

  • Colour: Pale yellow
  • Shape: Round to ovoid
  • External surface: Mostly, finely granular and hard
  • Cut surface: Glistening radiating crystalline palisade
  • When calcium carbonate, phosphates, and bilirubin present: Stones with lamellation and grey white to black colour
• Imaging studies:

  Stones composed largely of Cholesterol = Radiolucent

  Cholesterol stones with sufficient calcium carbonate component = Radiopaque