[Anicteric calculosis of the common bile duct]

In a series of 158 patients who underwent surgical treatment for biliary lithiasis, we have had 109 (69%) lithiasis of the gallbladder (CC) and 48 (31%) lithiasis of the common bile duct. In the last group 19 (38%) were without jaundice (CAEC) and 30 (62%) with jaundice (CIEC). We have compared the three group of patients (CC, CAEC and CIEC). It has come out that CAEC is between CC and CIEC and that attacks of biliary fever and high levels of alkaline phosphatase and transaminases in the serum are the helpful findings for preoperative diagnosis. Intravenous cholangiograms can confirm the diagnosis in 80% of one series but the operative cholangiography remains the definitive test. Finally CAEC seems to be the "benign" lithiasis of the common bile duct, a first stage that getting worse will became CIEC.