EVALUATION OF CHOLECYSTECTOMY SPECIMENS IN NORTHERN SAUDI-ARABIA

This is a retrospective review of 240 cholecystectomy specimens which were surgically removed in Arar Central Hospital, Arar, North Zone, Sa udi Arabia. The mean age of the patients was 41 years, with a male-to- female ratio of 1:6.1 Acute cholecystitis was seen in nine (3.8%), and chronic cholecystitis in 212 (88.3%) including two cases of chronic p ersistent cholecystitis. Calcular cholecystitis formed 95.6% of all ch olecystectomies. Associated conditions included hydatid disease of liv er, schistosomiasis of liver, chronic and subacute appendicitis, tuber cular peritonitis and carcinoma of the pancreas.