The relation between gallstone size and gallbladder cancer was investi
gated in a matched hospital-based case-control study of surgical patie
nts in a predominantly white population. Stone size was considered to
be an indicator of the damaging effects of gallstones on gallbladder m
ucosa, which may enhance carcinogenesis. A radiologist determined the
size of the largest gallstone within the gallbladder by reviewing hard
copies of the ultrasonographic examinations of cases and controls. Be
tween 1983 and 1989, 83 surgical patients with gallbladder cancer were
identified in 18 participating hospitals. Hard copies were available
for 72 patients and 208 matched controls. For 43 cancer patients and 9
8 matched controls stone size could be determined. In contrast to two
other studies, no relation was found between stone size and gallbladde
r cancer. The reasons for this discrepancy are discussed.