Calcified gallstone in a 3 year-old boy: a case report.
BACKGROUND
Gallstones are relatively rare in children. At-risk populations include patients suffering from hemolysis syndromes. Regardless of etiology, these patients usually will present with postprandial abdominal pain, and ultrasonography is the mainstay of diagnosis. However, some gallstones are radiopaque and can be visualized on plain abdominal radiography.


METHODS
We present the uncommon but classic plain x-ray finding of a calcified gallstone in a 3 year-old Hispanic boy. He was treated with elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy.


CONCLUSIONS
Cholelithiasis is rare in children, and calcified stones that will appear on plain abdominal x-rays are even rarer. If symptomatic, cholecystectomy by a pediatric surgeon is the treatment of choice. We discuss some of the recent developments in treatment of this condition in this patient population.
Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, 4650 Sunset Blvd Mailstop 100, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA.
Erik R
ER
Barthel
James R
JR
Pierce
Osnat
O
Zmora
Susan R
SR
Harlan
Sudha
S
Russell
Cathy
C
Shin
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000473:pathology; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D042882:Gallstones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography