Our objective is to prospectively determine the number; size, and type of gallstones in 300 consecutive patients who underwent cholecystectomy. The type of stone was correlated with the sex and age of the patients, the size and number of stones, and the presence of acute cholecystitis and gallbladder dysplasia. Cholesterol stone was found in 262 patients (87.3%), black pigment stone in 33 (11%), and brown pigment stone in five (1.7%). All types of stones were more common in females and increased with age. Cholesterol stone was more common in all ages. The number of stones varied from one to 465. Half of the patients had less of five stones. Single stone was found in 65 of 262 patients (24.8%) with cholesterol stone, in one of five patients (20%) with brown pigment stone and none with black pigment stone. The incidence of acute cholecystitis was similar for all three types of stones. There was no diference in the incidence of gallbladder dysplasia in relation to the number; type, and size of stones.1t is concluded that cholesterol stone is the most common type of gallstone. Independent of age and sex of the patients. Although the number of gallstones may vary widely half of the patients subjected to cholecystectomy have less than five stones. Patients with black pigment calculi do not present with single stone.
Cholelithiasis; Gallstone; Carcinoma ofthe gallbladder; Dysplasia ofthe gallbladder; Acute cholecystitis