Causes of intrahepatic bile duct stones

Intrahepatic bile duct stones are hard deposits formed within the intrahepatic bile ducts. They consist of a mixture of bile, bilirubin, cholesterol, and crystalline phospholipids, varying in size from as small as a grain of rice to as large as a coconut. Intrahepatic bile duct stones may develop due to excessive bile secretion within the liver, impaired bile flow, increased stability of substances in bile, changes in bile pH, or crowding within the intrahepatic bile ducts.