Analysis of Gallbladder Stones in Chungbuk.
- Author:
Lee Chan JANG
1
;
Chang Gyun YUN
;
Jae Woon CHOI
Author Information
1. Department of Surgery, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Gallbladder stones;
Cholesterol stones;
Black pigment stones
- MeSH:
Cholesterol;
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid;
Chromatography, Liquid;
Chungcheongbuk-do*;
Classification;
Gallbladder*;
Gallstones;
Humans;
Incidence;
Korea
- From:Journal of the Korean Surgical Society
2001;60(2):223-226
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Approximately 10% of the general population in western countries have gallstones. The compositions of gallstones, however, vary with location and ethnicity. The purpose of this study is to analyze the gallbladder stones of patients in Chungbuk and mainly to compare the compositions of the gallstones with those in other reports. METHODS: The patients in this study included gallbladder stone patients (N=318) who were operated on in Chungbuk National University Hospital from January 1992 to December 1997. By gross inspection of their cut surface structures, the gallstones were classified as pure cholesterol stones, mixed stones, brown stones, and black pigment stones. The chemical compositions of the stones (N=35) that were collected during January and February 1997 were analyzed using high- pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). RESULTS: By inspection, 31 (9.7%) stones were classified as pure cholesterol stones, 54 (17%) as mixed stones, 27 (8.5%) as brown stones, and 206 (64.8%) as black pigment stones. The results of HPLC analysis were as follows; 5 (15%) stones had cholesterol contents higher than 90% of their composition, 5 (15%) stones 50 to 90%, and 25 (70%) stones less than 20%. CONCLUSION: Of the galldder stones of patients in Chungbuk 73.3% were pigment stones. This result was compatible with the HPLC results (70% of the stones have less than a 20% cholesterol content). The classification of the gallbladder stones of the patients in Chungbuk shows that the incidence of black pigment stones is very high while that of cholesterol stones is low. The difference is even greater when compared with the data in other papers published in Korea. The causes of the difference be remained to be clarified.
