Comparison of clinical features of cholecystolithiasis and functional dyspepsia

148 patients with cholecystolithiasis and 77 patients with functional dyspepsia were examined to isolate symptoms or a syndrome characteristic of 'pure' (i.e. uncomplicated and without any co-existing diseases) cholecystolithiasis and functional dyspepsia; to evaluate their specificity and sensitivity as well as to estimate the power of each symptom or a group of symptoms to differentiate both these conditions. Endoscopy, ultrasound scan and biochemical tests were performed in each patient to exclude co-existence of any other gastrointestinal disorders. Also irritable bowel syndrome was excluded according to Manning's criteria. It was found that both these conditions have most often seven co-existing dyspeptic symptoms and that each symptom separately has low sensitivity and specificity for cholecystolithiasis as well as functional dyspepsia. The diagnostic power of each symptom is weak and even summing them up into groups of symptoms does not increase their diagnostic power.