Summary
A case in which a medium-sized common bile duct stone spontaneously passed through
the papilla into the duodenum is presented. The naturel course of this patient was
followed by repeated endoscopic retrograde cholangiography. Acute ulcerous changes
caused by the passage of a gallstone and a surprisingly quick recovery are demonstrated
by vivid illustrations. The clinical significance of the phenomenon with regard to
the patulous sphincter of Oddi or, in contrast, papillary stenosis, is discussed.
Key words:
ERCP - Choledocholithiasis - Spontaneous gallstone migration
