title: Mirizzi Syndrome: an unexpected problem of cholelithiasis. Our experience with 27 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mirizzi syndrome is a rare complication of long standing cholelithiasis. The purpose of this study is to retrospectively estimate the diagnostic and treatment methods applied in patients with Mirizzi syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our experience with 27 cases with Mirizzi syndrome is presented. They were diagnosed either by imaging techniques, or during surgical operation. All of the patients were managed surgically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  8 patients were diagnosed preoperatively and the rest intraoperatively. Morbidity rate after surgery was 18,5%, and mortality rate was zero. The patients presented free of symptoms three months after surgery during the follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mirizzi syndrome is rarely diagnosed preoperatively and US proved inadequate for this purpose. Surgery is the only therapy and usually provides additionally definitive diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Propaedeutic Surgery, Medical School, University of Athens, Laiko General Hospital, Athens, Greece. stamatakosmih@yahoo.gr.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Safioleas
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stamatakos
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Safioleas
authors.forename: Anastasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smyrnis
authors.forename: Constantinos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Revenas
authors.forename: Constantinos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Safioleas