Gallstone Disease: Introduction

Calculous disease of the biliary tract is the general term applied to diseases of the gallbladder and biliary tree that are a direct result of gallstones. Gallstone disease is the most common disorder affecting the biliary system. The true prevalence rate is difficult to determine because calculous disease may often be asymptomatic. There is great variability regarding the worldwide prevalence of gallstone disease. High rates of incidence occur in the United States, Chile, Sweden, Germany, and Austria. The prevalence among the Masai peoples of East Africa is 0% whereas it approaches 70% in Pima Indian women. Asian populations appear to have the lowest incidence of gallstone disease. In the United States, approximately 10–15% of the adult population has gallstones, with approximately one million cases presenting each year. Gallstones are the most common gastrointestinal disorder requiring hospitalization. The annual cost of gallstones in the United States is estimated at 5 billion dollars.