A 49-year-old Caucasian woman presents with a 2-month history of worsening abdominal pain. The patient describes the pain as crampy, unrelenting abdominal pain that begins in the right upper and middle quadrant of the abdomen; very occasionally, it will go into right shoulder area. The pain usually occurs shortly after especially heavy meals, usually within 30 minutes; it then eventually subsides, although this takes anywhere from 60 - 120 minutes. Physical examination reveals significant right upper quadrant tenderness and rigidity with a palpable, firm mass. Ultrasound performed in the office reveals complete calcification of the gallbladder wall; there is a hyperechoic semilunar appearance with posterior acoustic shadowing.
A symptomatic patient as described above with such severe calcification as seen on ultrasound would most likely be treated via what method?
A) Reassurance only
B) Periodic ultrasound imaging study
C) Open cholecystectomy
D) Laparoscopic cholecystectomy
E) Percutaneous biliary stent placement
