[Cholelithiasis in children: a clinical and morphological study].
BACKGROUND
The use of ultrasonography increased the frequency of diagnosis of cholelithiasis in childhood.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the clinical and laboratory features and follow up of children with biliary stones.


METHODS
Twenty six children (13 male, aged 1 month to 14 years) were prospectively enrolled.


RESULTS
Nine children had a past medical history of factors potentially predisposing to stones. A clinical presentation with vomiting (50%), abdominal pain (46%) and jaundice (23%) was the most common indication for surgery. The diagnosis was based on abdominal ultrasound in all children. Cholecystectomy was performed in 15 children (laparoscopy in 13 and open surgery in 2). Children who underwent surgery were older than those who did not undergo surgery (p < 0.001), but they did not have differences in liver function tests. Eight children had pigmented stones and seven had cholesterol stones.


CONCLUSIONS
In our patients, neither family history nor laboratory tests were useful in the diagnosis as well as in the clinical decision of surgery, which was based on symptoms. The presence of cholesterol stones in a high proportion of these children may be a unique situation in Chile, considering the high prevalence of this disease in the adult population.
Harris
Paul
P
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Pediatría, Lira 44, Santiago, Chile. pharris@med.puc.cl
Chateau
Bernardita
B
Miquel
Juan Francisco
JF
Zavala
Alejandro
A
Montes
Patricio
P
Herrera
José Miguel
JM
Zuńiga
Sergio
S
Larraín
Francisco
F
Santos
Marcela
M
Contador
Mónica
M
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography