What is the medical term for a stone stuck in the common bile duct?

• A. Cholecystitis
• B. Choledocholithiasis
• C. Cholangitis
• D. Pancreatitis

Answer: (B)

The medical term for a stone stuck in the common bile duct is choledocholithiasis. This term specifically refers to the condition where one or more gallstones obstruct the common bile duct, which can impede the flow of bile and cause a range of complications, such as jaundice or pancreatitis.

Cholecystitis refers to inflammation of the gallbladder, typically due to gallstones, but does not describe a stone in the bile duct. Cholangitis is an infection of the bile duct system, often resulting from an obstruction, like a stone, but it does not specifically denote the presence of the stone itself. Pancreatitis, which describes inflammation of the pancreas, may occur as a complication of choledocholithiasis, particularly if the stone causes pancreatic duct obstruction, but it is not the term used for the stone lodged in the bile duct. Therefore, choledocholithiasis is the precise term for this condition.