Abstract
The ease and accuracy of real time ultrasound with which gallstones may be shown in the gallbladder has increased the incidence of silent gallstones. This paper describes experience with clinial course and treatment of silent gallstones.
Between 1972 and 1987,493 patients w ith silent gallstones have been studied. In those patients,278 were detected at the Department of Gastroenterology, Juntendo University, and 215were diagosed at ultrasound mass survey performed in Iki and Izena Islands. Incidence of silent gallstones was 12.8% of gallstones detected at Juntendo University, and 62.8% of those diagnosed at mass survey.
Follow -up of silent gallstones showed that 12.9% of the patients had become symptomatic within three years from the time of diagnosis. In those patients surgical intervention was performed without morbidity or mortality. In only one patient (0.4%), association of carcinoma of the gallbladder was occured.
The result of thi s study indicates that in silent gallstones operation is not required untill the patient becomes symptomatic. Incidence of association of carcinoma of the gallbladder is very low in silent stone.
