J Korean Pediatr Soc.  1994 Jan;37(1):70-77.

Cholelithiasis in Childhood

• Kim SY
• Seo JK

Abstract

Nineteen children found to have gallstones at Seoul National University of Children's Hospital from Jun. 1982 to Jun. 1992 were reviewed. The results were as follows: 1) The mean age was 10 years, with 9 boys and 10girls. Most of the cases(63%) were over 10 years of age. 2) Clinical manifestations were abdominal pain(14 cases), nausea and/or vomiting (5 cases), fever (2 cases), jaundice (2 cases) and fatty food intolerance (1 case). Five cases were asymptomatic. Of 14 cases with abdominal pain, only 5 cases showed typical biliary colic which suggests cholelithiasis. 3) Associated conditions in cholelithiasis were Wilson disease (5 cases), congenital hereditary spherocytosis (2 cases), choledochal cyst (2 cases), total parenteral nutrition following ileal resection (1 case). And the other conditions which had association with cholelithiasis are not certain, and they were nephrotic syndrome, histiocytic cytophathic panniculitis, meningococcal meningitis, portal vein thrombosis and cardiac cirrhosis. The remaining 4 cases showed no associated conditions or diseases. 4) Eleven of 19 patients with cholelithiasis (58%) showed cholecystitis. 5) Cholecystectomy was performed in 4 cases with frequently recurred abdominal pain or associated diseases which needed operative correction. Symptoms completely subsided after operation. In conclusion, cholelithiasis in children has a variety of associated conditions and nonspecific abdominal symptoms were nore common than classic biliary colic. Although cholelithiasis in pediatric population are uncommon problems, the possibility of gallstones should be considered in the evaluation of abdominal pain in children with associated conditions.

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Child
Cholecystectomy
Cholecystitis
Choledochal Cyst
Cholelithiasis*
Colic
Fever
Fibrosis
Gallstones
Hepatolenticular Degeneration
Humans
Jaundice
Meningitis, Meningococcal
Nausea
Nephrotic Syndrome
Panniculitis
Parenteral Nutrition, Total
Seoul
Venous Thrombosis
Vomiting