Foreign material as a cause of choledocholithiasis

Background and Study Aims: There are sporadic reports concerning foreign ma terial as a cause of choledocholithiasis, Gallstones obtained endoscopicall y from the biliary duct were analyzed to determine their structure and the presence of foreign material. The possible correlation between foreign mate rial in gallstones and clinical data was investigated. Patients and Methods: Gallstones were examined qualitatively using a crysta llographic analysis by X-ray powder diffraction, and the foreign material w hich was found was subjected to morphological analysis using polarization m icroscopy, Patients' clinical data were obtained from clinical records, phy sical examination and documentation. Results: Out of a group of 54 patients, foreign material was found in CBD s tones of six individuals (11.1%), Four of these patients were from the grou p who had undergone a previous cholecystectomy (29/54, 13.8 %), and surgica l suturing material was found in these four. On the other hand, in the grou p who had not undergone the operation, foreign material was found in two pa tients out of 25 (8 %); in one case it was cellulose and in the other case the fibre was not identified. Conclusions: Foreign material can account for lithiasis in the biliary duct , In contrast to present reports in the literature, we have proved that thi s is possible even in patients without previous surgical intervention in th e pancreatobiliary region.