When I read my MRI report, it stated that my biliary duct was 17mm in diameter from the liver to the ampulla where it dumps to the duodenum. I did have a reference for the significance of that number. Last night, I looked up what the "normal" range should be. Normal is 4.0mm to 4.1mm. An outlier maximum in the study was 7.9m. My duct at 17mm is extremely dilated. It certainly sounds like I have a blockage at the outlet to the duodenum. The surgical consult to remove the gallbladder is still a week out.
There are multiple ways to treat them, leaving the gall bladder.
Oral dissolution therapy. Drugs made from bile acid are used to dissolve the stones.
Methyl-tert-butyl ether. A solution injected into the gallbladder to dissolve stones.
Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL). A procedure that uses shock waves to break stones up into tiny pieces that can pass through the bile ducts without causing blockages.
Contact dissolution therapy. An experimental procedure that involves injecting a drug directly into the gallbladder to dissolve the stones.
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/gallstones