PIXE ANALYSIS OF GALLSTONES - TRACE-ELEMENT ANALYSIS AND MILLIBEAM SCANNING OF STONE SECTIONS

The trace element analysis of 26 gallstone samples, each classified in to one of five types, has been performed by the PIXE method. The eleme ntal correlation between bile and gallstone, sampled from the same pat ient has also been investigated for 19 of these samples. The elemental profiles of four types of large gallstone have been investigated usin g milli-probe proton beam scanning. It has been shown that the trace e lement concentration is related to the different types of gallstone, b ut no correlation has been found between bile and gallstone. The proto n beam scanning of gallstones has revealed elemental profiles of Cl, K , Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn in each sample. It has also been shown that th e Ca concentration is higher in the core region and the outer layer fo r most of gallstones.