title: [Cholelithiasis in children and adolescents (authors transl)].
abstract: Cholelithiasis is a rare, but important condition to be considered in the differential diagnosis of abdominal symptoms in childhood and adolescence. A survey over a 20-year period revealed 10 cases between the ages of 11 and 20 years, with a clinical history of cholelithiasis of between 5 days and 6 years. The most consistent finding was epigastric or right upper quadrant pain. Serum chemistry did not contribute conclusively towards the diagnosis. Hereditary spherocytosis was demonstrated in 3 cases, 2 had familial gall bladder disease, whilst in the rest no cause could be found. Two patients are described in some detail: one girl with spherocytosis and a bilirubin of 78 mg/100 ml, presenting with choledochal obstruction and pancreatitis, and another girl with a history of recurrent abdominal pain, negative radiologial and chemical pathological findings and a tentative diagnosis of neurosis. Oral cholecystograms lead to the diagnosis in most cases; however i. v. cholangiograms should be considered whenever the diagnosis appears in doubt. All cases were treated by cholecystectomy and recovery was uneventful in 9 patients. Cholecystectomy should be performed in all patients with gall stones, even in the absence of symptoms.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002763:Cholecystectomy; D002769:Cholelithiasis; D005260:Female; D005705:Gallbladder Diseases / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000150:complications; D013103:Spherocytosis, Hereditary / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D001663:Bilirubin
vernacular_title: Cholelithiasis bei Kindern und Jugendlichen.