SYMPTOMS OF GALLSTONE DISEASE IN A SWEDISH POPULATION

Objective: To assess the significance of symptoms of gallbladder stone s. Design: A population-based screening study to identify patients wit h gallbladder stones and to investigate their symptoms. To compare the se results with symptoms in gallstone-free individuals and in patients with clinically diagnosed gallbladder stones, in order to find out wh ich symptoms are associated with gallbladder stones. Methods: Five hun dred and fifty-six men and women, aged 40 and 60 years, were screened with ultrasonography to find subjects with gallbladder stones and thos e already cholecystectomized. One hundred clinically diagnosed gallsto ne patients were investigated for symptoms and compared to individuals in the survey.Results: There was no symptom that occurred significant ly more frequently in patients with incidental gallbladder stones than in individuals without. Patients with clinically diagnosed gallstones suffered significantly more often from most of the symptoms that were assessed. Conclusion: The majority of people with incidental gallblad der stones are asymptomatic. A large minority of gallstone-free indivi duals in the general population have abdominal symptoms. Combinations of different symptoms may increase their predictive value to a level w ith clinical utility.