Disappearing gallstones: Report of 2 cases

Abstract

then been well for 2 weeks, but a week before the consultation T~~ of d;sappearance ofga[[stones confirmed by she had experienced epigastric and right hypochondria1 discomfort with vomiting after a 'dinner'. The jaundice returned operation are described. It is suggested that a conand was confirmed by a total serum bilirubin of 3.7 mg/ tributory factor in the disappearance Was the Patient's 100 ml blood and a conjugated serum bilirubin of 2.8 mg/ adherence to a jut-free diet. Recommendations are 100 ml blood. The patient had borne 2 children, the younger made concern;ng 2 years earlier. She weighed 76 kg and was mildly jaundiced. She was instructed to adhere strictly to a FFD. Cholecystomultiple small gallstones.graphy was performed 8 weeks later; it showed 8-10 radiolucent stones within the gallbladder, each 7-8 mm in diameter

The cholecystokinin test: An assessment

“…It has already been established that gallstones may be expelled by passage through the biliary tree (Gray, 1974). Indeed, these 'disappearing stones' may account for a clinically significant proportion of patients who present with typical gallbladder colic but have a normal cholecystogram, and the patients in this series without stones at operation may be considered as possible examples (Reid and Rogers, 1975).…”

The negative cholecystogram in gallbladder disease

“…In the former the calculi were of cholesterol and few in number, suggesting that the patients suffered from lithogenic bile (Small, 1968). In the latter the frequency of jaundice or subclinical jaundice and the postoperative freedom from pain make for the belief that stones previously present had migrated down the biliary tree and been expelled (Addleman, 1962;Gray, 1974). Both situations are supported by evidence from other reports.…”