[Problems in the diagnosis and treatment of intrahepatic lithiasis]

Following the study of 44 cases of intra-hepatic lithiasis the authors have reached these conclusions:--intra-hepatic lithiasis (both primary and secondary) represents 3% of the biliary lithiases;--the characteristic element of the evolution of biliary lithiasis is the so-called "ageing phenomenon" leading to the formation of multiple stones, progressively obstructing the biliary pathways and finally involving the intra-hepatic segments. These are the so-called biliary panlithiases representing 50% of the cases with intra-hepatic lithiasis in the author's statistics;--cholangiography (both intravenous and intra-canalicular) should be considered as completed only when it provides a representation of the entire biliary system;--one cannot speak at present of a "remaining" or "forgotten" hepato-choledocus stone before the exclusion of the intra-hepatic "forgotten" stone;--the significant reduction of "post-cholecystectomy disturbances" depends on the correct diagnosis and treatment of all stones, indifferent of their site of occurrence (extra- and intra-hepatic).