Ultrasonographic screening for gallstone disease in middle-aged women. Detection rate, symptoms, and biochemical features

Five hundred and forty-seven middle-aged women, selected at random from the population of Malmö, Sweden, were invited to a screening survey for gallstone disease; 424 participated (77.5%). Forty-one had previously been operated on for gallbladder disease. The prevalence of gallstone disease, on the basis of a positive finding at ultrasonography and cholecystography, was 11%. The predictive value of a positive finding at ultrasonography was 86%. Six out of 10 women with gallstone were classified as asymptomatic. Body weight, blood pressure, liver enzymes, fasting blood glucose, and blood lipids, including apolipoprotein-A, did not differ significantly in women with and without gallstone disease. At least 9 out of 10 gallstones appeared to be cholesterol stones. Approximately half were of a size that would make them accessible for dissolution therapy.