Has gallbladder cancer mortality decreased in Chile?

This paper analyses the information of the Ministry of Health on gallbladde r cancer mortality in Chile since 1997. It becomes evident that the decreas e in mortality in the last two years is only apparent and due to a statisti cal artifact, caused by the non validated application of the Tenth Internat ional Classification of Diseases. There is a consensus that one of the caus es for an increase in gallbladder cancer in a specific country is a decreas e in cholecystectomy rates. This association bas been clearly demonstrated in Chile, but no control program for gallbladder cancer has been devised, c onsidering but an early cholecystectomy is a good secondary prevention meas ure (Rev Med Chile 2001; 129; 1079-84).