Gallstones in Western Japan

Abstract

Abstract In a study from 40 hospitals in Western Japan between 1975 and 1978, intrahepatic gallstones were identified at the first biliary tract operation in 106 patients (a 3.03% prevalence). These were predominantly bilirubin stones. The recurrence rate for patients with intrahepatic stones was the same as for patients with bilirubin stones solely in the common bile duct, suggesting the pathogenetic similarity of these two conditions. The prevalence of intrahepatic stones was 1.5% at urban and 4.97% at rural hospitals (P