Epidemiology and Pathogenesis of the bile duct stones

Abstract

Gallstone disease is one of the most frequent biliary tract diseases that a biliary specialist often makes diagnosis and medical treatment. There are two national surveys in 1996 and 1997 by the Japan Biliary Association as epidermiology investigation of the gallstone disease. However, the recent trend is unknown without investigation being preformed for the past 10 years. In this article, we give an outline of the epidemiology of the choledocholithiasis and hepatolithiasis in Japan based on the national surveys. Moreover, we also review the pathogenesis of the cholesterol gallstone and calcium bilirubinate gallstone.